by Jerry Burke
"It was kind of overwhelming," said Robert Maloney, one of Jump Start's organizers and a student at Mineola High School. "We all worked really hard, and I feel like we're a little disorganized."
Considering that it was the charity's first event, the feeling was understandable. About 500 players from all over Long Island registered to play in Jump Start's 3-on-3 basketball tournament. The organization, which was founded to raise money for Mercy Medical Center's newly expanded Level 3 neonatal intensive care unit, got a taste of something not many charities do on their first foray into fund-raising: a complete success.
"These guys should be proud of themselves," said Dr. Anthony Colantonio, a trauma surgeon at Mercy whose son, Matthew, is one of the students running the charity. "We've had a full day of basketball, no injuries and they have saved lives. You can't ask for much more than that."
Colantonio was one of the relatives willing to give the kids a hand in operating what turned out to be a massive tournament. "We've been working up here all day," said Liz Sullivan, the mother of organizer Patrick Sullivan, as she sat behind the registry desk. "They were a bit nervous, but they really did a great job."
Patrick Sullivan, working all day after two hours of sleep the night before, had a personal interest in the cause. "I was in the neonatal care unit myself, so it is very close to me," he said during a break from his announcing duties.
Sullivan said the idea to start Jump Start began when a few members of the regional Garden City Wildcats baseball team decided to look for some charity work. "Matt Colantonio's sister [and Patrick's cousin] had started 'Songs for Seniors,' a group that brought music into the lives of seniors at The Bristal [an assisted-living community]," said Patrick.
"These guys got together, and it just spread from there," said Colantonio.
Mike Robbers, a freshman at Kellenberg Memorial High School and an Oceanside resident, wanted in as soon as he heard about it. "I had read about the foundation in my church bulletin," said Robbers. "I had been in the neonatal unit when I was born. I had no feeling in my right arm for months, but they helped me through. So I wanted to give back."
The foundation met every Friday to plan the event. After securing the location courtesy of Rosemary Neis of the Island Garden, they need to spread the word. It worked.
There were divisions for boys and girls in the fourth through 12th grades, an adult division (ages 19 to 50), a senior division (over 50), a wheelchair division and a "Challenger" division. Each player was asked to donate $25. There were also three-point, free-throw and dunking contests. Additional funds were raised through a raffle and a silent auction, and all money collected at the snack bar went to the charity courtesy of the Garden.
Bruce West, a member of the adult division champion team "Vinny G," said the day was more than worth it. "My friend Vincent told me this was going on," he said, "and I said, 'Sounds like a good thing.'" The Queens trio went undefeated for the day, but West said he was more impressed with the event itself. "They really organized this thing well," he said. "I had a blast."
The foundation doesn't plan on stopping anytime soon. Buoyed by the success of the basketball tournament, it's making plans for a bowl-a-thon in February and a triathlon in June.
"They've done a lot of good here today," said Colantonio. The students running the foundation include Eric Bevilacqua, Peter Cento, Matthew Colantonio, Patrick Fallon, Robert Maloney, Ryan Maloney, Michael Milone, Brian Oleksiak, Joseph Oleksiak, Mick Oswald, Michael Roberts, Patrick Sullivan, Jessica Tubbs and Brian Wysocki. As the season for giving begins, these young people certainly made a slam dunk. For more information on the group, e-mail them at jumpstartonlife@aol.com.
