Get ready to support your support for our troops.
Building off the success of last year”s inaugural event, Walmart, Columbus High School, and local organizers have been working hard to put the finishing touches on the second annual Hoops for Troops event that will kick off at 8 a.m. Saturday at Columbus High.
Led by Walmart store manager Ernest Robinson, the event is a fundraiser for the Family Readiness Group fund that supports the families of members of the Battery A Second of the 114th Strike, a National Guard unit from Columbus.
“It was a phenomenal reception last year,” Robinson said. “The event raised around $3,500. We just went about what we were doing and were going to see what we could do. Our goal this year is to raise $5,000.”
Robinson said the goal is to give back to the men and women who serve our country. He said he has received outstanding support from people in the community, as evidenced by the fact the basketball tournament has grown from eight teams to 10 teams. He said there will be two teams of nine players from Walmart — a Red team and a Blue squad — competing for the title. He refused to say which team had a better shot at winning, and that he would have a “rinsgside” seat as general manager advising Gary Otts, a shift manager at Walmart.
“The Walmart guys hated to lose (last year),” Robinson said. “This year, they want to bring the trophy home.”
Team House, the team that won the event in 2010, won”t compete this year.
Robinson said he was going to play in the tournament, but that he is schedule to have eye surgery today. He said he will be at Columbus High on Saturday to lend support and to do anything he can to make the event a success.
Robinson and a group from Walmart were at Columbus High on Tuesday to tour the facilities and to discuss planning for the event. They also wanted to see what supplies they needed to bring so they are prepared for all of the fans who will come out to see the action.
There is a $2 admission fee for the tournament, which is expected to run for most of the day. There also will be plenty of activities and prizes associated with the basketball tournament.
Robinson said his goal is to move the event to a different school in the area each year. Last year, Caledonia High played host to the tournament.
In addition to the local teams that will be involved, there will be a team from Tupelo and a team from Ackerman competing.
“We have had a tremendous response, and people have been calling and asking what they need to do to help,” Robinson said. “Columbus High has been great. They have reached out and given us whatever we need. Our goal is to help the families of the brave men and women who serve out country.”
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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