For the second year in a row, The Ronald McDonald House Greater Rochester All-Star Basketball Games will not take place due to COVID-19 restrictions. However, coaches and representatives still constructed the rosters to honor the athletes in their final high school seasons.
“Players deserved the honor, so we felt it was important to continue this tradition of naming the teams and coaches,” said games chairperson, Rich Dibble.
65 seniors and coaches from 14 leagues and 53 schools in Section V make up the rosters. The selected athletes would typically be featured in back-to-back games while chosen cheerleaders performed at one of the halftimes.
“We are extremely proud of all these girls and boys,” said All-Star Games coordinator, Dave Dence. “They are now part of the All-Star legacy which has honored the ‘best of the best’ in our area for many years.”
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Members of local officiating organizations, Board 60, CWGBO, coaches and administrators from Section V have been coordinating the event since 1986. Since then the event has raised over $400,000 for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Rochester. Game sponsors include McDonald’s Restaurants of the Greater Rochester Area and Entercom Radio Stations WBEE, WPXY, WBZA, and WCMF.
The Ronald McDonald House is a temporary lodging facility for families with children being treated for serious illnesses at area hospitals. The House provides a “home away from home” for families who are going through a difficult time and need of support.
“Not being able to host All-Star Games again for the second straight year was a huge disappointment,” Dibble said. “But even with the shortened season we still felt it was important to recognize our area’s exceptional talent. We hope to resume normal All-Star activities in 2022. With no games played this year, the amount of money raised was limited, so we encourage anyone who can to donate to help the Ronald McDonald House.”
You can donate to the Ronald McDonald House Charities through its website, via mail, over the phone or by stopping in to the office at 333 Westmoreland Drive Rochester, NY 14620. Check out the website for dates to additional events and fundraisers RMHC holds throughout the year.
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