A HOME RUN FOR HELP
KeyBank receives Golden Stickball Bat
TROY, N.Y.» Representatives of KeyBank came together Thursday in its Troy branch on 3rd Street to accept this year’s Golden Stickball Bat award from DeFazio’s Pizzeria.
Local businessman Rocco DeFazio came up with the idea for a stickball tournament in 2009. DeFazio, who has played stickball throughout his life, after playing one day with his kids decided that it would be a good idea to host a stickball tournament in the city.
For the past several years, the Stickball tournament has also served as a fundraiser for Joseph’s House and Shelter in Troy.
The 10th annual “Stick it to Child Homelessness” stickball tournament will be from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Flag Day on Sunday, June 10 at the Little Italy Market Place on Hill Street, between Liberty and Washington streets. DeFazio said they are looking for participants and spectators to donate shoes, socks, coloring books, crayons, personal hygiene products for children, small pillows and towels to help the children living in Joseph House and anyone who donates an item will receive a small American Flag to place on their mailbox along with free gelato.
“This is going to be a neighborhood Flag Day celebration and cookout,” said DeFazio on Thursday at KeyBank. “There’s
going to be great food, we’re going to have music all day and we’re going to have stickball all day, and this is for a great cause.”
There will be music all day provided by The Haymakers and DJ Luke. Food will be provided by Dinosaur BBQ, Berben and Wolff’s and DeFazio’s Pizzeria. Some of the teams participating include the Adirondack Community College Baseball Team, Friends and Family of the Menands School District, DeFazio’s Pizzeria, Key Bank and The Crisafulli Allstars.
Members of The Arc of Rensselaer County took home the Golden Stickball Bat two years ago after the organization collected more than 1,000 pounds of food.
Last year, members of the Troy Uniformed Fire Fighters Union were hon- ored with the Golden Stickball Bat.
Officials from KeyBank are excited to participate in the tournament this year and are glad that they are able to give back to the community with their team donations. KeyBank officials said that they also received donations from local restaurateur Vic Christopher along with Nate Rock, owner of Bootleggers on Broadway.
“We put a team together of 10 people and we’re all donating whatever we can off his list,” said Mark Davies, vice president, business banking and relationship manager with KeyBank, who said the bank’s goal is to have around $1,000 worth of products donated to Joseph’s House. “I’m a Troy guy so I really like to participate with the businesses here.”
Troy Mayor Patrick Madden was in attendance Thursday to congratulate KeyBank of their golden stickball bat award.
“This is in its 10th year, so it’s become an institution in Troy and we look forward to it every year,” said Madden, while also noting how the event continues to grow each year. “It’s an easy and fun way for the community to get involved and help people out, so I would encourage everybody to bring some products and come on down and enjoy the music, enjoy the stickball and everything else that’s going to be offered during it.”
Kevin O’Connor, executive director of Joseph’s House and Shelter, said he is appreciative to DeFazio and all of the businesses and organizations that participate in the annual event as a way to help out families living in the shelter.
“We couldn’t do what we do without a lot of help from the community, particularly with Rocco, the local KeyBank, ARC and Vic Christopher, they’re neighbors and they recognize the services that we do and they endorse what we do and that’s as big as anything else,” said O’Connor, who said the resources and donations help to support the 100 families that they serve per year.