Concordia to raise funds through basketball

Published 10:40 pm Saturday, March 28, 2009

Concordia College will hold a coed 5-on-5 basketball tournament April 24-26.

The tournament is a fundraiser for the Department of Social Sciences’ new social work program. The program is working to get off the ground as the classroom is ready, but its furniture depends on tournament proceeds.

“The funds are strictly to furnish the new program because we are trying to incorporate more programs at Concordia to reach the community,” said Angela Sullivan, a psychology instructor and the tournament’s director. “With basketball kind of ending, we thought maybe we could do a tournament just to include some youth and bring it back.”

Email newsletter signup

The tournament will be divided into four age groups — fifth and sixth graders; seventh and eighth graders; high school and college; and local businesses.

Participating teams are required to have five-to-10 players, but 10 is the limit. Each additional player will incur a $10 fee in addition to the $25 signup fee. Registration ends April 17. Teams can download registration forms from the Concordia College Web site.

Admission is $2 and free to children under 6-years-old.

“We’re looking for $300-500,” said Sullivan. “We’re not trying to get rich because we’re only charging $2 to get in. We think we’re going to make most of our money at the concession stand.”

Festivities are expected to include a slam dunk competition and 3-point shootout during halftime of each game. Sullivan hopes to include players and teams from the entire Black Belt.

She also hopes for participation from the girls’ and boys’ teams at Concordia and Wallace Community College for two exhibition games.

“It’s just something to reach out to the youth because it is about the youth,” said Sullivan. “Our program is about community service, although we are getting a few donations. Ultimately, we want to embrace the community into the Concordia community.”