The Playmakers Organization Hosts First Game of Winter Basketball Series

SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - On November 16, local non-profit The Playmakers Organization hosted a basketball game for special needs and at-risk kids at Oak Hills Church in Folsom. Playmakers founder Greg Roeszler said, “This is the first day of a series of these that we will do throughout the winter, and that we just believe will continue to grow and enable us to provide more support for special needs and at-risk kids and their families.”

The event featured a waffle breakfast catered by the Burgess Brothers BBQ & Burgers. Corporate sponsors included Mortgage Consultant Group, FitGuard, Asher College, Republic Services, Palm Tile, Go Forth Coaching, and Serenity Spa.

Roeszler was especially excited about the various groups who came together for the event: The Special Olympics, Big Brothers Big Sisters, United Cerebral Palsy of Sacramento and Northern California (which provides programs and services for people with developmental disabilities), Rotarians, members of Oak Hills church, and community volunteers.

The Folsom High School freshman football team played a pivotal role in the game, filling out the four basketball teams and encouraging and assisting the participants. One of the players, Ian Walsh, said, “It’s really special to help out my community and make sure that everyone has a really good time today and to make sure these kids have a good day.”

When addressing the crowd before the game, Roeszler spoke about some of the professional athletes who support Playmakers, including NFL player Jordan Richards, who has played with the New England Patriots, the Atlanta Falcons, the Oakland Raiders, and is now a Baltimore Raven. Richards has been involved in Playmakers since he was 13, attending Playmakers football camps as a teen. His mother, Sharon Richards, is a member of Oak Hills Church, and she attended the game to show her support: “I just love this organization. … It’s great to see the kids having fun.”

Playmakers made a vital impact on her own son, and Sharon is grateful that the organization continues to reach out to kids in need. “No matter what our situation in life, we all need support, we all need people who believe in us. And it really is, in my estimation, the purest definition of community,” she said. “You come together, and you support, you encourage. We’ve got to do more of that.”

Mike Lueken, Pastor of Oak Hills Church, said, “It’s a way to encourage young people and to support what Playmakers does. And we’ve been involved in it for a long time, and it’s just a way to come together, to collaborate with Playmakers and with other people, and to do something that is encouraging and helpful to young people.”

The game participants ran across the court and practiced their free-throw shots, all to the thundering encouragement of all in attendance. Clarissa Viers (12) loves attending Playmakers events: “You get to have real fun, and it helps you learn to get through bullying and struggles and stuff through sports and recreation.”

Jerry Viers has seen a variety of positive changes since Clarissa joined Playmakers: “They’ve put so much confidence in her that I couldn’t have implanted in her…. It’s been great getting to watch her grow and become the fine young lady that she is today.”

If you would like to learn more about The Playmakers Organization and their work to support at-risk and special needs kids, visit www.ThePlaymakers.org.