RISE Against Gun Violence

Over the past few years, we have experienced an increase in gun violence that has devastated our entire community.  Our teens and young adults are dying and being incarcerated at an alarming rate due to gun violence.  On Saturday, July 30th, Basketball 4 LYFE and Willows Recreation Center will hold a community fundraising event, RISE against gun violence.  We must RISE up and take action against gun violence in our neighborhoods and community.  During the summer months, Basketball 4 LYFE has made a commitment to focus on combating the rise of violence in our community by creating more programs and opportunities for our teens and young adults to have positive outlets.  Basketball 4 LYFE program has been spending thousands of dollars each year providing youth a safe space to learn life skills that support maturing teens and assist with developing connections outside of schools.  These pro-social life skills include emotional regulation, social-emotional development, taking responsibility for personal choices and decisions, understanding impact over intent, job skills development, mental health awareness, tutoring and connecting with mentors for on-going and wraparound support.  Basketball 4 LYFE staff is composed of primarily volunteers who are community educators, teachers, administrators, dedicated parents, children and youth advocates, and other leaders.

In order to accomplish our mission and vision, we are reaching out to the community for support.  We need your help!  Through this fundraising event, RISE against gun violence, we will be able to increase funds to support our high-risk youth who could not otherwise participate in the activities available in our community.  In addition, we are creating an event that will bring our community together to promote mental health awareness and access to resources, increase the understanding of the traumatic impact gun violence has on an entire community, as well as to develop a sense of community engagement, ownership, and accountability that is necessary to address the public health epidemic of gun violence.  As we collaborate with the NAACP, we will donate a percentage of our proceeds to help support victims of gun violence in our community.

The following people have worked on this event as they too want to take a stand and RISE against gun violence:  Reggie Rice, Adrianne Dillahunt, Adrian and Elizabeth Young, Stacey Cornelius, Nate Exume.  Please join them by getting involved and taking action.  We’d also like to express our gratitude to Trish Post and Sunny Malhotra of Willows Recreation Center and Sidelines Bar and Grill; without their support and generosity this event would not be possible – big heartfelt shoutout to them!

Event Details:
Saturday, July 30, 2022
2 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Willows Recreation Center

Cornhole Tournament
2 p.m. competitive cornhole competition begins – $60.00 per team
4 p.m. social cornhole competition begins – $40.00 per team

Cornhole Tournament

Mental Health and Community Resources
Silent Basket Auction
Kids activities and games
Food trucks
Special guest performances: Comedy Illusionist Reggie Rice, SRMS Rhythm Club, K-9 Unit Show