Harlem Wizards event to help LES PTO

By Andy Brown
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Updated: April 22, 2015

The Harlem Wizards will be invading Louisburg in early May and they will be doing so in hopes for raising money for the Louisburg Elementary Parent-Teacher Organization.

Instead of the PTO’s normal CLASS Dinner & Auction they host every March, the organization decided to change things up and try to get the whole community involved. The Wizards will be taking on a group of community “all-star” players at 3 p.m. on May 3 at Louisburg High School.

The Wizards is a traveling basketball organization that creates fundraiser events for schools and nonprofits. Last season, playing in over 400 communities across the United States, the Wizards raised more than $2 million for schools, charities and nonprofits.

The event is being put together thanks to several local businesses, including Vohs Pharmacy, which is partnering with the LES PTO.

“This is the first time a fundraiser of this type has been done,” LES PTO co-president Amy Jo Jamison said. “We are very excited to bring the Harlem Wizards to the Louisburg area. We have received a ton of support from local businesses and all the Louisburg schools. Not only do we have a great group of Louisburg teachers/principals and local community members that have stepped up to play on our Louisburg All-Star Team, as well as our six LHS seniors, we have over 30 LES teachers/staff volunteering at the event too. The money we raise from this fundraiser will go directly to our elementary schools.”

Doors will open at 2 p,m., and the meet and greet that the Courtside Plus ticket holders get is at 2:15. Warm-ups start at 2:30 as several students have purchased jerseys to warm up with the Wizards, which was limited to 50 students. The game goes until 5 p.m., and the Wizards will also put on a halftime show.

Reserve and general admission tickets are still available. General admission tickets can be purchased at www.harlemwizards.com or reserved tickets can be purchased at the schools.

“It promises to be a fun-filled event that is great for kids and adults and will guarantee to put a smile on your face,” Jamison said. “Fans will witness amazing basketball talent combined with hilarious comedy.”

Those community members playing are: Broadmoor principal Chris McLean, Rockville principal Becky Bowes, Cindy Apple, Joel McGhee, Melanie Elliott, Melissa Gage, Megan Harris, Arianne Seidl, Jeff Lohse, Brian Keegan, Shava Vohs, Jeremy Holloway, Amy Goode, Mark Williams, Shelley Haines, Kevin Vohs, Ryan Dansel and USD 416 superintendent Dr. Brian Biermann.

Also participating are Louisburg High School seniors Brady Lambeth, Nathan Moore, Corbin Wertz, Kirstin Lowry, Natalie Moore and Kallie O’Keefe.