Veeder faculty and Colonie police face off for a good cause
The third annual Amy Tisa Memorial Charity Basketball Game raised $4,800, which was given in a check to the Wilkinson family, who recently lost wife and mother Crystal Wilkinson to cancer.
Apparently the recession has not dimmed the charitable nature of Colonie residents, said Richard Thompson, the event’s chairman.
The game took place in March, but a check was presented to Crystal’s husband Louis, daughter, Dakota, 11, and son Dillon, 6, at the North Colonie Board of Education’s Tuesday, April 20, meeting.
Louis and Dillon both attend Veeder Elementary School.
The event is named after Veeder teacher Amy Tisa, who died three years ago.
The Wilkinson family shared their appreciation with the community, the police and the school district at the meeting. The family also asked the community to support another charitable effort, Sparky’s Run, at 10 a.m. on June 6 at the Crossings of Colonie.
The event will raise money for appendix cancer research, and proceeds will also go to the Wilkinson Children’s Scholarship Fund.
Information about the run can be directed to [email protected].
More than 500 people attended the basketball game, which featured the Colonie Police Globetrotters and the Veeder Owls, a team made up of faculty and staff at Veeder Elementary School.
South Colonie Board of Education President Brian Casey, honorary coach for the police department, said the game was a great opportunity to show solidarity for a good cause.
`We all came together for a common cause,` he said. `It gave a good community feeling.`
He said the friendly rivalry created by the game was a good venue for community and school members to interact.
He said the game was a chance to `in a fun way, hassle, some of my friends from the Veeder School.`
Colonie police won the match 48-46.
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