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Date: 3/21/2023
LUDLOW — The Michael J. Dias Foundation and Forest Park Project will host its second annual charity basketball tournament on March 25.
The event will start at 9 a.m. at Ludlow Boys and Girls Club and is open to men and women 18 years old or older.
The registration deadline was March 20, but Director of Operations Adam Bartlett said they will not deny a late entry or day-of sign-ups.
“We currently have 12 teams signed up so far and more teams who are in the process of registering,” Bartlett added.
The 3-on-3 tournament will be double elimination. In the first round, the winner must score 15 points and the rest of games will be played to 21.
Bartlett added there are plenty of prizes that are going to be given away with the first place team receiving tickets to a Boston Red Sox game.
Other prizes include Springfield Thunderbird tickets, Amazon gift cards, a signed Vinny Del Negro basketball and four Planet Fitness memberships.
Del Negro was born in Springfield and is a former NBA player and coach.
Bartlett added, “The event is open to anyone. They don’t have to be in a program in our foundation. We have plenty of guys and girls signed up for this tournament.”
The event will also feature a three-point contest for $10 and the top participants can win prizes.
Each roster can either be three or four players and it is $20 per player to participate.
You can register at mdiasfoundation.org. All the enrollment fees and other money spent at the event will go toward the foundation.
The foundation was created after Michael J. Dias died as a result of his drug addiction in 2009. To make a difference and move toward a drug-free community, Michael’s family created the foundation to help those in need.
Their mission is to aid and educate individuals and families on substance abuse and help those that are battling the disease of addiction.
The foundation was created in 2011 and has only grown since then. It hosts two fundraisers every year, a June golf tournament and October gala and dinner along with various events throughout the year. The foundation also started a support group hosted every Tuesday evening for parents and families of people suffering from addiction.
The foundation is based out of Ludlow, and they also own and operate three separate sober houses that focus on providing a supportive and drug-free community for those in recovery.
In 2016, Michael’s House, located at 71 State St., Northampton, was created as a sober living community for men who are in their early stages of recovery and live in a community where they can feel supported by each other and staff.
The house was funded and purchased by foundation members and the men are required to focus on employment and contribute to the operational costs of the house.
Two more houses have been added to the equation after a donor came forward with the funds to purchase another house called Sean’s Place in 2017 and the foundation purchased a third house which is called Christian and Brian’s House.
The two houses also provide a sober living community for those seeking recovery and the support of others embarking on a similar journey.
Sean’s Place was named after Sean Wilczynski who also suffered from addiction and passed away in 2016, and is located at 59 Walnut St. in Fitchburg.
Christian and Brian’s House was named after the Michael J. Dias Foundation received a donation from the Forest Park Project, a nonprofit organization whose focus is raising funds in the honor of Christian Diaz and Brian Metzger to combat the opioid epidemic.
Christian and Brian’s house is located at 115 Mill St, Springfield.
Bartlett said, “We chose a basketball tournament because a big part of these guys coming in recovery is the physical aspect of working out and doing different things so mentally you are also feeling better.”
The foundation continues to host fundraisers to help raise money to support those who are looking to take the next step in their recovery journey.
To donate or learn more about the foundation, anyone can visit mdiasfoundation.org.