|
February 13, 2007
BETHLEHEM, PA – The
Via All-Star Basketball Classic returns for its 32nd year
to raise funds for Via of the Lehigh Valley, Inc.’s
Employment Programs
and showcases the basketball talents of area student athletes.
The Via All-Star Basketball Classic’s “Super
Saturday,” sponsored by Keystone Nazareth Bank &
Trust, Sodexho, Wegman’s, the Harold S. Campbell Foundation,
Concannon, Miller, & Co., P.C., and Coordinated Health,
is Saturday, March 31, 2007 at 10:30 am at Freedom High School
Gymnasium in Bethlehem, PA.
Jason McElwain, whose visit is sponsored and underwritten
by Wegman’s, will kick off the Classic as the speaker
for the Via All-Star Banquet on Thursday, March 29, 2007 at
6 pm at Freedom High School. McElwain, diagnosed with autism
at age two, was the equipment manager for his high school
basketball team. In the last game of the season, his coach
gave him the opportunity to play. McElwain proved just what
he could do when given a shot.
“Just like Jason’s coach, Via believes that everybody
deserves a shot,” said Scott Fainor, President and CEO
of Keystone Nazareth Bank & Trust, lead sponsor of the
Via All-Star Basketball Classic. “Jason excelled when
someone gave him a shot and Via believes that everyone, including
people with disabilities, deserves a shot.”
McElwain scored 20 points, six three-point shots, in under
four minutes to become the leading scorer of the game. At
the end of the game, the student’s rushed the floor
and hoisted McElwain onto their shoulders. His story was picked
up by local and national media outlets and was posted online
where it has over 600,000 hits. Jason graduated from high
school last year and works at Wegman’s in Rochester,
NY.
“Wegman’s wants to find the best people to serve
their customers,” said Fainor. “They look at what
a potential employee can do, not what they can’t do
and they are committed to hiring people with disabilities.”
“The goal of the Via All-Star Basketball Classic is
to raise $50,000 for Via Employment Programs which partner
with companies like Wegman’s and Keystone Nazareth Bank
& Trust to help people with developmental disabilities
gain successful inclusive employment,” said Chuck Stehly,
Via of the Lehigh Valley, Inc., Chairman of the Board of Directors.
“The Classic will educate participants about Via’s
programs and the need for community involvement through financial,
partnership and advocacy support, and showcase the basketball
talents of our area student athletes.”
The Classic features the 80 best male and female high school
basketball players in the greater Lehigh Valley, selected
from the Lehigh Valley, Colonial League and Mountain Valley
Conferences and three independent schools (Notre Dame - East
Stroudsburg, Pius X and Moravian Academy).
All eligible players will be graduating seniors from their
schools. A media panel will select the Via All-Star teams,
Players of the Year, Teams of the Year, two scholarship award
winners and participants for the Coordinated Health 3-Point
Shooting contest. The Via All-Star Banquet recognizes these
student athletes and the Lehigh Valley Basketball Hall of
Fame inductees.
The Via All-Star selection panel is made up of one representative
from the Via All-Star Basketball Classic committee and two
invited representatives from each of the following sports
departments: The Morning Call, The Express Times, RCN, Service
Electric TV 2, WFMZ, Blue Ridge Cable, and the Pocono Record.
“Via Super Saturday” begins at 10:30 am on Saturday,
March 31, 2007. Team designations are bracketed into Lehigh
Valley West and Lehigh Valley East in two divisions, making
a total of eight teams – four teams of boys and four
teams of girls.
Super Saturday Game Schedule
10:30 am LV West Bracket
#4 vs. LV East Bracket #2 - Girls
12 pm LV West Bracket #4
vs. LV East Bracket #2 - Boys
1:30 pm Coordinated Health
3-Point Shooting Contest
2 pm LV West Bracket #3 vs.
LV East Bracket #1 - Girls
3:30 pm LV West Bracket #3
vs. LV East Bracket #1- Boys
Team Designations
LV East Bracket #1
· Easton
· East Stroudsburg – S
· East Stroudsburg – N
· Freedom
· Liberty
· Nazareth
· Northampton
· Stroudsburg
· Bethlehem Catholic
LV West Bracket #3
· Allen
· Dieruff
· Emmaus
· Pleasant Valley
· Pocono Mountain – E
· Pocono Mountain – W
· Parkland
· Whitehall
· Central Catholic
LV East Bracket #2
· Bangor
· Wilson
· Moravian Academy
· Notre Dame – GP
· Notre Dame – ES
· Palisades
· Pen Argyl
· Saucon Valley
§ LV West Bracket #4
· Catasauqua
· Palmerton
· Northern Lehigh
· Southern Lehigh
· Northwestern Lehigh
· Salisbury
· Lehighton
· Pius X
“We value the opportunities Via provides to people with
disabilities and want to be a part of an event that helps
people with disabilities find jobs in the community,”
said Fainor. “The Via All-Star Classic is a unique opportunity
to showcase the talent of our area student athletes and provide
them the opportunity to be a part of an event that has an
even bigger meaning.
It’s an important lesson to learn – to give back
to your community – and these students are learning
that by being a part of the Via All-Star Classic. This isn’t
just about basketball – it’s about giving everyone
a shot – it’s about helping others and being a
part of our community. KNBT is excited to part of that.”
Via of the Lehigh Valley is a non-profit human service agency
that provides support services to children and adults with
developmental and physical disabilities, such as cerebral
palsy, autism, spina bifida, down syndrome, traumatic brain
injury and mental retardation. Via provides ten programs to
support people in the following areas: Children’s Services,
Employment, Community Based Services and Residential Services.
Via All-Star Basketball Classic tickets for Super Saturday,
March 31, 2007 are available at the door. For event details
please visit www.vianet.org.
Lisa Walkiewicz
Communications Director
484-893-5390
|
