Thursday, October 1, 2026
Valley Stream teachers will take to the basketball court of Memorial Junior High School on Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. for a charity game to raise money for Team Rubicon, an organization that sends veterans into areas affected by natural disasters, and the North Woodmere Park Foundation, an organization that raises funds to improve North Woodmere Park.
The teachers will face-off against the Court Jesters, an entertainment-based basketball team.
“They’re kind of like the Harlem Globe Trotters, but they’re not,” Rich Adams, the president of the Valley Stream Teachers Association said.
Before and after the game, children can get autographs from and take pictures with the team. During the game, Andy Eckman, the manager of the Court Jesters, said the team would get the audience involved.
“We’re going to have a lot of fun with it,” said Andy Eckman, the manager of the Court Jesters.
To organize the fundraiser, Gary Carlton, a former Valley Stream deputy village attorney who does pro-bono work for the North Woodmere Park Foundation, contacted Larry Parker, who has organized similar charity games with the Court Jesters.
Carlton then asked Fare, who works as a teacher at Central and South high schools, if any teachers would like to get involved with the fundraiser.
“It’s been a nice group effort between the communities and the local governments,” Carlton said.
Tickets for the game cost $8 in advance and $10 at the door. They can be purchased at any of the Valley Stream schools.
