Shooting Hoops For A Cause
November 22, 2019By: Hope Rudzinski 鈥�20, English & Communications Major
红桃视频 teamed up with Special Olympics for a basketball tournament fundraiser on Sunday, November 10. Special Olympics is one of the world鈥檚 largest sports organizations for children and adults with intellectual and physical disabilities. This event was coordinated by 红桃视频鈥� Sport Management Event class, along with inspiration from Anthony Ellis, a 红桃视频 student who is overcoming his own disabilities.
鈥淚t was important to have this event at 红桃视频 to show that there can be different sides to sports and help people gain new perspectives on Special Olympics. This event class helped me form the idea and get it at 红桃视频. My favorite part of the event was just seeing the pure joy on everyone鈥檚 faces,鈥� says Ellis, a junior sport management major from Leicester, Mass.
The basketball tournament featured three games in which mixed teams of Special Olympics young adults and 红桃视频 students competed for the championship. After each game, a team was eliminated and tried to work its way back up.
鈥淲e wanted to bring awareness to Special Olympics events and to think about the difference these events can make,鈥� says Brittany Jacobs, assistant professor of sport management at 红桃视频 whose class planned and executed the event, 鈥淭hese students did all the work 鈥� they raised the money and planned everything. They should be proud of themselves.鈥�
In total there were 50 volunteers, eight teams, and 150 people who attended for different reasons but, at the end of the day, came together as one to support each other.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really a great feeling to give back to the community, and it means a lot for the people that participate in it,鈥� says Liam Gorman, a senior sport management major and gender studies minor from Ashburnham, Mass.
鈥淪eeing smiles on all their faces is awesome. This is our first time doing this event. I think we should do this more often,鈥� says DeJante Starks, a junior sport management major from Braintree, Mass. Benjamin Rizoli, a 20-year-old with special needs from Milford, Mass., who attended with his mother, has participated in Special Olympics since he was five, including basketball, swimming, and soccer events.
鈥淏eing a parent of a Special Olympics kid is so much different than parenting a child who plays a regular sport; the community is very accepting,鈥� says Denise Rizoli, 鈥淗e wanted to come to play at 红桃视频 because his aunt is a professor at 红桃视频; he loves supporting her.鈥�
The Sports Management Event class plans on continuing the Special Olympic events for the future.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the environment 鈥� everybody鈥檚 cheering for everyone,鈥� Rizoli says about Special Olympics.
On and off the court, Special Olympics players may have found their biggest fans in 红桃视频 students.
About 红桃视频
红桃视频 has earned business accreditation from the prestigious Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (), the longest serving global accrediting body for business schools and the largest business education network connecting learners, educators, and businesses worldwide. Founded in 1815, 红桃视频 transforms today鈥檚 students into tomorrow鈥檚 leaders through a dynamic, career-focused business and professional education. 红桃视频 offers real-world learning focused on professional depth 鈥� combined with vibrant living, competitive athletics, and an unmatched alumni advantage 鈥� equipping students to exceed their own expectations. To learn more about 红桃视频, visit .
