By Jeff Lipton
The special JCC fundraiser, which is scheduled to be held between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. at the Island Garden in West Hempstead, will feature a children's basketball clinic, which will be run by St. John's University basketball coach Mike Jarvis.
The clinic will be followed by a basketball game with top-rated Israeli basketball players in which residents can pay-to-play in the game as part of the JCC Dream Team. Residents will be allowed to play, coach, referee, announce or just cheer in the game.
The game will feature Israeli all-star players, said Yehuda Mor, special events coordinator for the JCC. All of them played for the Israeli National Team and won titles and championships in the European League and national titles in Israel.
Former New York Knicks forward Charles Smith will be on hand, as will current NBA players Rafer Alston from the Toronto Raptors, Anthony Mason from the Milwaukee Bucks and Mike James from the Boston Celtics.
He referred to the players as the Michael Jordans of Israel. Mor said the JCC can probably accommodate 25 residents to buy a 10-minute spot to play against the Israeli team. For a donation of $500, families can purchase a spot on the team and it will include the clinic for children. If families only want to participate in the clinic, it will be a donation of $300, and $200 to be spectators, which will include a fully catered meal.
Live and silent auctions of sports memorabilia will be held and more. Some of the items that will be auctioned off include a basketball signed by all the Israeli all-stars and some items from the 2004 Olympic Games. There will also be Knicks giveaways and prizes. The proceeds for the Sept. 14 event will go towards JCC programs and services, helping the Five Towns and surrounding communities.
I want to emphasize that this is a fundraiser for the JCC and JCC programs in what the JCC does for the community, its adults and children, Mor said. This is an interactive fundraiser. It is unique and different.
The master of ceremonies for the day will be Halftime Howie, who hosts his radio show on WGBB 1240 AM.
The JCC of the Greater Five Towns is a nonprofit community agency offering professional, social and recreational programs to families and individuals in the Five Towns, East Rockaway, Lynbrook, Malverne, South Valley Stream and Far Rockaway, which are supported by UJA-Federation, JCC Association, United Way and Five Towns Community Chest.
Anyone wishing more information may call Yehuda Mor, special events coordinator, at 569-6733 or e-mail at cday1@sprynet.com.
