“Hoops 4 Dana” marks its second year of raising money in memory of who died in a December 2010 car accident. All proceeds raised by the April 7th all-day tournament go to “Friends of Dana,” which funds a scholarship and continues Sassano’s mission of helping those in need. Businesses and individuals can sponsor the tournament and get their name listed on the tournament t-shirts with a $100 or more donation by Monday, March 18.
Sassano and three friends, all seniors at Clarkstown schools, were returning from a New Jersey ski trip when they were involved in the tragic car accident on a hilly section of Route 17A near Greenwood Lake. The New City teenager was a senior at Clarkstown North High School, a member of the National Honor Society and involved with various charities including the American Cancer Society, March of Dimes, Heart and Locks of Love. Her family donated her heart, which helped to save the lives of two infants.
The tournament held at Clarkstown North High School is for the benefit of the Friends of Dana Foundation, in conjunction with the Clarkstown North Interact Club, Town of Clarkstown and the Clarkstown Policemen’s Benevolent Association. Volunteers from those organizations help out along with the Clarkstown North lacrosse team. The 2011 event raised more than $11,000 with the assistance of more than 60 volunteers who refereed and timed the games played by 450 youths, assisted with set up and ran the refreshments stand.
Josh Maurer, 16, and Danny Heim, 15, have been involved with the tournament from the beginning. The New City residents wanted to do something after their close friend Nicky Sassano lost his older sister.
“Because Nicky is one of our best friends and when his sister passed away we wanted to do our tournament in memory of her,” explained Heim.
Maurer talked about how the tournament is organized.
You have three to four players on a team with rolling subs,” he said. “It’s five minute running time so you’re just playing on through. It’s two loss elimination.”
Competitions are scheduled throughout the day according to age:
- 3rd through 5th graders will play from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- 6th through 8th graders will compete from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- 9th through 12th graders will play from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Clarkstown elementary school students are receiving tournament flyers to bring home for registration. Next week, Maurer and Heim plan to setup a registration table at North to signup their classmates. Registration costs $20 per player and includes a t-Shirt. The deadline for registration is March 20.
To register, make out a check to Friends of Dana and include the player’s name, contact e-mail and phone number and send to:
Josh Maurer and Danny Heim
16 Sundbury Drive
New City, NY 10956
For more information call 845-634-2189 or e-mail hoops4dana@gmail.com.
Sponsors signed up already include: Arista Air Conditioning Corp.; Alex Gromack; St. Augustine’s CYO; Steve Botto Landscaping; Jim DeMinno CPA; Clemente Orthodontics; RBI; Twist and Shake; Hiep Sanitation; Organo Gold Coffee; Callan and Beebe Families; Stop & Shop; Dan and Lisa Ross; Letitia's Bridals; M&M Electric; Design by Jillane Ferreira and kookoomonkey, LLC.
