Number of Participants: 30
Hours Donated: 4
Value of Time Served: $1,014
Event Amount Raised: $1,200
Event Type: Children & Youth
Sport: Boys Basketball
School: George W Hewlett High School
Date: January 18, 2024
Location:
George W Hewlett High School
Everit Avenue, Hewlett
NY
About:
This matchup features the Boys Varsity Basketball Teams of Hewlett High School and Bellmore JFK High School, who came together to collect a total of $1200 in support of SIBS place.
For nearly two decades, we have been diligently raising funds for this noble cause. The players from Hewlett High School contributed by soliciting donations from local businesses and their own family members to support the initiative.
Since its inception in October 2000, SIBSPlace has adopted a psychosocial support model based on prevention theory, focusing on helping siblings of individuals with cancer or other devastating illnesses. Through various expressive activities and peer support, the program aims to empower these children, enhance their emotional well-being, and build their resilience, ultimately providing them with a sense of belonging and support akin to an extended family. In 2015, SIBSPlace, Inc. was established as a charitable foundation in collaboration with Mount Sinai South Nassau, solidifying its commitment to the community and its mission. https://sibsplace.org
Hewlett High School played host to the second of three basketball games that were played in a six-day stretch for the annual Hoops for Hope fundraiser for SIBSPlace.
In the Jan. 18 contest, the varsity Bulldogs bested Kennedy High by 9, but the real winner was Rockville Centre-based SIBSPlace that collected $1,500 for its services that help children face the challenges of having a sibling enduring cancer or another devastating illness or a parent diagnosed with cancer.
Founded in 2000 by Hewlett Harbor resident Mike Schamroth, the free program has been sponsored by Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital since its inception.
“It’s a great cause and I’m honored to continue the tradition Bill Dubin (former Hewlett boys’ basketball head coach) started many years ago to benefit SIBS,” said Andy DeBernardo, the current head coach said at the game.
“This year we kept it mostly in-house and we want to thank the faculty and administration as well as Kennedy High School, their head coach Rory Block and the Nassau County boys’ basketball association for contributing,” DeBernardo added.
The two other games were played at Bethpage High School on Jan. 13 and at Sewanhaka High on Jan. 19. Both those games were sponsored by Peninsula Kiwanis.
“A few years ago Bill and I started a toy drive for SIBS and we plan to keep that going and to do a little bit more than the previous year,” DeBernardo said.