Mid-Continent Players Volunteer for "Dribble With Dad"

I love when basketball is used off the court to help others through volunteer work. Here is a nice story from the Mid-Continent University basketball team:

Mayfield, KY -- Six members of the Mid-Continent University men's basketball team recently sacrificed an opportunity to watch the NCAA Elite Eight tournament games to volunteer at a local basketball event called "Dribble with Dad" in correlation with Mayfield Elementary School.

Dribble with Dad is a program that Fran Chester, a counselor at Mayfield Elementary School, started 11 years ago. "There are so many things that get moms involved, so I wanted to get dads involved," said Ms. Chester. Chester, also a cheerleading coach at Mayfield Elementary School, has developed and grown the event, with the help of others, from a few local youngsters in its first year to over 460 who participated on Sunday, March 29, at the Mayfield High School Sports Arena, Mid-Continent's home arena for its men's and women's basketball games.

"Dribble with Dad" lasted about four hours. The day began with the preschool and kindergarten-age children showing off their ball-handling and passing skills. The first through third grade children then demonstrated their skills in relays featuring dribbling and three-legged style races. The last group played in an unconventional 10 on 10 tournament, featuring five students and five "dads". Every child at every grade level was paired with their father or a fill-in volunteer.

The Cougar volunteers included guards Donovan Willis, Joshua Woodley, Marvin Bolden, and David Gratton, and center Kenny Thomas, along with student assistant coach Ryan Smith, who also is Mid-Continent's student body president. The volunteers filled in for fathers who were unable to attend the event.

Mid-Continent University Facilities Director Tim Blalock, a participant in the event, said that he was pleased to see MCU's men's basketball team participating in community events. "You could see that the guys were timid at first, but once they got out there with the kids they couldn't stop smiling."

"Some of the guys might have wanted to watch the NCAA games when we first arrived at the arena, but on the way back all they were talking about was their new friends and how funny the kids were," said Smith, who added this: "In an attempt to serve others with our talents, we are the ones who are blessed by the outlook and attitudes of the kids and local community leaders that we helped. It was a great day for not only young basketball enthusiasts, but for Mid-Continent basketball."

Announcement

Mid-Continent Basketball