ShopRite sponsors Project Graduation event featuring Harlem Wizards

Event raises $2,500 for all night graduation party WARWICK — They didn’t defeat the world famous basketball team, the Harlem Wizards, But they came close. On Thursday evening, Nov. 10, a group of Warwick students, boys and girls, formed a team to face the Harlem Wizards. Founded in 1962, the Wizards hold the longest known winning streak in all of professional sports. The Warwick team, fine-tuned by High School Basketball Coach Tom Folino, scored 83 to the Wizard’s 90 points. As with all typical “Wizards” game, the Thursday evening audience enjoyed approximately two hours of amazing basketball talent combined with comedy. Warwick ShopRite was a sponsor of the Harlem Wizards and employees also participated in the event. Throughout the game, ticket holders were treated to a display of tricks, coordinated ball handling, fancy passing, lots of laughs and audience interaction. At the end of the evening, Project Graduation had raised approximately $2,500 from the event. “As always, the Wizards were amazing and the kids as well as parents really enjoyed themselves,” said committee chair Celia Cantelmo. “This will be a big help for next year’s Project Graduation.” The organizers held the basketball game event to help raise funds for its annual “All Night Party,” an alcohol and drug-free party exclusively for Warwick Valley High School graduating seniors in a safe environment. The committee plan is that on the evening following the graduation ceremony, students are to be dropped off at the school and then transported to the party location where they will be treated to a fun and exciting night filled with entertainment including DJ music, live entertainment and an all night free buffet. “We usually have a professional entertainment company running the event and ample chaperones to ensure that the students are safely enjoying themselves,” said Cantelmo. “At the end of the event the students will be transported back to the High School where they can be picked up. It has become a tradition to honor our graduates with an all night safe party as a gift from the parents and the community.” Plans will be finalized early next year. Cantelmo said her Project Graduation Committee is urgently in need of more volunteers for upcoming fundraisers. For additional information, to volunteer, make a donation or become a sponsor call Cantelmo at 222-9339 or e-mail loucelia@optonline.net.