By EVAN NEMEROFF
Five Towns Community Chest raises estimated $20,000 through charity basketball fundraiser
The Lawrence High School gymnasium transformed into a donation drop box during the Five Towns Community Chest's 12th Annual Youth Board Basketball Tournament. While participants in the tournament were swishing jump shots and draining threes, they were raising money for 16 local health care and human service agencies affiliated with the community chest.
"This is a great tournament," said Lee Rosen, of Hewlett, who has participated in the tournament every year since its inception 12 years ago. "It's a pleasure to play in this, especially because it's taking place for such a good cause." Rosen was a member of the Over-40 Division championship team, along with Lonny Fine and David Weingarten.
For the past nine years, the tournament has been dedicated to the memory of Adam Barsel, a Hewlett High School student who was tragically killed in an auto accident in 2000. Last year, the Five Towns Community Chest's Youth Board donated $1,200 to the Adam Barsel Memorial Scholarship Fund and plan to make a donation this year as well. The amount the board will donate should be determined at the community chest's next meeting at the end of March. Through this donation, the Adam Barsel Memorial Scholarship Fund adds to a scholarship that is given to a Hewlett High School male and female senior based on academics, athleticism, and individual character.
Richie Barsel, Adam's father, said he is thankful for the contribution that the Five Towns Community Chest makes to the fund. "The basketball tournament is a great event for me and all the families in the community," Barsel said. "It makes me feel good to take part in this and to see that my son is being remembered. It's a great tribute to see the members of the community that we live in come out and support each other."
Twenty-five teams took part in the three-on-three tournament, which consisted of four divisions based on age level - an over-40 division, an under-40 group, and a high school and middle school division. There was a $50 registration fee for each youth team, and many families and businesses were recognized as sponsors which helped the Five Towns Community Chest raise an estimated total of $20,000 before expenses.
The four sponsorship levels were major, tournament, supporting and T-shirt. There were nine major sponsors for the event at $1,200 each, 12 tournament sponsors for $650 each, four supporters at $350 a sponsor, and 21 T-shirt sponsors at $200 each. Local businesses that sponsored the tournament included MMC International (major), Spiro Financial and Insurance Services (major), Norcon Communications (tournament), East Coast Endodontics (major), M. Marin Restoration (tournament) and the Nassau Herald (tournament).
"It always feels good to give back to the community that you live in," said Five Towns Community Chest Youth Board Advisor Arthur Robbins, who played in and helped run the tournament. "This tournament is my way to do something for others. I enjoy playing in it and it makes me feel good to help our affiliates and the Adam Barsel Memorial Scholarship Fund."
The tournament also featured raffle prizes that included golf clubs and gift cards from many local businesses like Bagel Boss, Denny's, FoodTown, Infinity, Max & Gino's, Michael's Jewelry Design, and Mother Kelly's.
Carol Miller, event and youth board coordinator for the Five Towns Community Chest, said that this event would not have been such a success without the help of all of the sponsors and participants. "I am proud of the great job that was done by everybody that took part in the event," Miller said. "We appreciate all the support that we had and all the people were very generous helping this cause, especially during these difficult economic times."
Comments about this story? ENemeroff@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 210.
