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Flutie brings annual event to Springfield

Date: 4/19/2011

April 20, 2011

By Chris Maza

Reminder Assistant Editor

SPRINGFIELD — When Doug Flutie comes to town to host a sports-related fund-raiser for autism, of course, the first thing everyone expects is ... basketball?

Maybe not, but basketball contests are what children and adults alike enjoyed as part of a fun-filled evening at Flutie's Rock n' Hoops event to support the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism on April 15 at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

"We were looking to do some new and different things and we've always had a basketball event in Boston, but we thought coming out here to Springfield and touching a new market would be a fun thing to do," said Flutie, who is a "huge basketball fan," according to the foundation's Executive Director Lisa Borges.

Both Flutie and Borges expressed excitement about being able to host such an event at the Hall of Fame.

"It just made perfect sense," Borges said. "We really wanted to have a basketball event and where better to have it than at the Hall of Fame?"

Flutie added, "Having the event here is classic. When I walk in here, I'm like a kid. It's terrific being here surrounded by all of the greats and the basketball history."

Flutie, who won the Heisman Trophy for Boston College in 1984, was a Pro-Bowl selection in 1998 and was twice a New England Patriot, said the people of Massachusetts have always been very generous and welcoming to his foundation and Springfield has been no exception.

"In general, we've had a great run. The Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation has been in operation for 13 years and things have gone extremely well," he said. "Springfield is a new market for us and it seems like the general public was genuinely excited to have an event out here."

Flutie was joined by former NBA star and Springfield native Travis Best and former University of Connecticut and WNBA basketball player Kara Wolters, among others, at the event that included music, free throw contests, martial arts demonstrations by Inner Circle Self Defense and members the Boston Celtics dance team.

For a team free throw contest, groups of four donated $100 to participate, while contestants in the individual free throw contest doled out a $25 entry fee and raised a minimum of $100. Spectators also chipped in at $20 apiece.

Best said he was excited to have the event in Springfield and was impressed with the support from area residents.

"It's really great that we're able to have this here in Springfield. It gives us the opportunity to do something truly great," Best said. "I'm not surprised [at the turnout], but I am very happy. I think it shows how much people around here care."

Mike Balise, vice president of the Balise Auto Group, helped host the event with Flutie because he has a very significant tie to autism.

"I have a daughter with autism," Balise said. "We are supporters of Autism Speaks and for the past few years have attended Doug's golf and bowling fund-raisers for autism. When we had the opportunity to help with an event in Springfield, we were very happy to help."

Flutie said the foundation was shooting to double its fund-raising efforts from a year ago, when the inaugural event brought in approximately $20,000. In total, 250 people attended, raising more than $30,000.

"We learned from some of the things we did last year to make it a little more interactive this year in hopes of creating a little more money," he said.

With that money, the foundation will be able to contribute even more help the families affected by the developmental disorder. In 2010, the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation handed out 30 grants to groups or organizations in New England, New York, New Jersey, California and Canada.

"Last year we gave out $500,000 in grants," Flutie said. "We've had some down years a few years ago as things started to get tough for people financially, but things are climbing back up."

Flutie said he felt one of the major reasons the event has become such a success is because of the number of people affected by autism.

"Without a doubt. Every single person that came in here and helped raise money is affected by autism, probably in their immediate family and at least in their extended family." Flutie said. "The reason people know about it is that it is so prevalent. Right now, it's one out of every 100 children in Massachusetts, one out of 70 boys. This time last year, we were talking about one in 156 kids. The numbers have escalated over the last 10 years. When we started our foundation, it was one in 1,500."



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