Basketball fundraiser to help Boys and Girls Club

TROY >> Catholic Central High School will host a charity basketball game to raise money for the Boys and Girls Club of Lansingburgh at 1 p.m. Friday in the school’s gymnasium.

Known by students as the Winter Classic, the charity game between seniors and faculty members is a way for both sides to give back to the community in a meaningful way while participating in a fun, athletic competition.

In order to qualify for the game, seniors must raise money for a charity of their choosing. The fifteen highest fundraisers from the class qualify to participate. Winter Classic T- shirts are also sold in the weeks prior to the game, with profits also going to the Boys and Girls Club.

The Winter Classic has been a Catholic Central tradition for 10 years, according to Principal Christopher Bott.

“The general idea is to create a fun event involving both students and faculty while still helping others,” he explained. “Serving the community is part of our mission statement here at Catholic High, so it’s important that we incorporate that into many of our day to day activities.”

One of the keys to the Winter Classic’s prolonged success is the amount of work put into making sure every detail is just right. Senior Mary James Clement and marketing teacher Jeffrey Bregenzer dedicated their time this year to ensuring as much money as possible is donated and that every aspect of game day itself goes smoothly. Together, they organized the sale of T- shirts, coordinated the event with students, and found coaches, referees and other students to work the game.

“It was a lot of work, but I’ve had fun along the way,” Clement said. “Sometimes I found myself more worried about getting money from people or handing out T- shirts than I was with my schoolwork. But I kept everything very organized, and I’ve had help from other students and faculty, so all in all, it was worthwhile.”

Bregenzer said he definitely believes this year’s Winter Classic is a success already.

“Any fundraising efforts that raise even a dollar towards a charity are a great feat and something the students should be proud of,” he said.

That sentiment was echoed by the school’s principal.

“Success in terms of the Winter Classic is measured in two ways,” Bott said, “the effort made in fundraising and the overall enjoyment of everyone involved. In both of these ways, we have succeeded.”