On Tuesday, April 24th, a huge crowd came out to Valparaiso High School to see the Harlem Wizards, a professional entertainment basketball team, take on the Valparaiso All-Stars. The Valparaiso All-Stars featured staff from Central Elementary, Cooks Corners Elementary, Flint Lake Elementary, Hayes Leonard Elementary, Immanuel Lutheran, Northview Elementary, Parkview Elementary, St. Paul Catholic School, and Thomas Jefferson Elementary. The All-Star team also had some local celebrities including the Valparaiso YMCA’s Bob Wanek, the Special Olympics’ Lorrie Woycik, VHS coaches Ben Lieske and Brent Kimmel, the Valparaiso Community Schools Superintendent Andrew Melin, and more!
What an amazing night of family fun! No one left disappointed, as this matchup produced a gym full of exciting basketball, mixed in with Harlem Wizard’s funny and theatrical stunts. They were definitely a crowd pleaser with their captivating stage presence and entertaining audience participation.
Gabrielle Baker, a fifth grade student from Northview Elementary, stated, “My favorite part was when all the kids got to go onto the court and dance with the players!” David Paul or better known as ‘DP’ of the Harlem Wizards led the local children and a few brave adults with his hilarious dance moves between the third and fourth quarters in the middle of the gym floor.
Another student from Northview Elementary, Jessica Mudd, said, “It was awesome when DP came up and gave us all high fives during the game!”
The event had a very special halftime performance featuring the Porter County Special Olympics cheerleading squad coached by VHS cheerleader Caitlyn Gear and assistant Claire Scherschel.
As if the evening wasn’t amazing enough, the Wizards stayed in the gym until every autograph was signed. They signed everything from pictures, posters, and basketballs to shirts, headbands, and shoes! The kids did not seem to care what the signature was on, just as long as they got it.
A big thanks goes out to the teachers, staff, players, and many volunteers that worked diligent using their time and talent to make this fun-raiser a success!
The evening was sponsored by the Cooks Corners Elementary PTA, Memorial Elementary PTO, and MasterTech Pest Control with some additional support provided by Sticky Fingers Cando Co., Kumon, Perpetual Motion, and Star Plaza. All proceeds will benefit the Valparaiso Elementary Schools by helping with students’ special activities and providing teachers with opportunities to enhance learning in the classrooms.
To check out more information on the Harlem Wizards, go to www.harlemwizards.com.
To check out photos from this event, click here!
(Editor's Note: The fundraiser sold about 1,725 tickets, raising an expected $11,000 for the schools!)