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Ceretto announces free 'Reject Bullying' 3-on-3 youth basketball tournament

by jmaloni

Press release

Thu, Jul 18th 2013 05:30 pm

Assemblyman John Ceretto, along with the Niagara PAL and the Niagara Christian Basketball Program, announced the free "Reject Bullying" 3-on-3 youth basketball tournament. The tournament will be held at Niagara University's Kiernan Center on Saturday, Aug. 3, starting at 9 a.m.

Participating youths will be given the opportunity to play at least two games in the tournament and will also hear an anti-bullying presentation that highlight the dangers of bullying and the steps children can take to stomp out bullying in their schools and neighborhoods.

"I am eagerly looking forward to hosting this free 3-on-3 youth basketball tournament. This will provide the youth of the Niagara Falls area the opportunity to be active and enjoy the great game of basketball," Ceretto said. "In addition, we will also teach participants about the dangers of bullying, which causes anxiety, depression and a lack of self-confidence among our youth. With this tournament, we are taking on both the problems of childhood inactivity and bullying."

The participants will be divided into five different brackets. The age 7-to-9 bracket will be co-ed, while the 10-11 and 12-13 brackets will be divided into boys brackets and girls brackets. Each team will be guaranteed a minimum of two games in the tournament, and there will be a door prize giveaway for players.

Sponsors for the event include Local 91, Niagara Falls Redevelopment, Niagara Falls Aviation, Modern Corp., National Fuel, Seneca Nation and Niagara Falls Fire Department.

Capt. John DeMarco (ret), Niagara PAL board president, said, "It has always been our goal to use athletics to keep kids off the streets and give them something fun and constructive to do. We are proud to partner with Assemblyman Ceretto and the Niagara Christian Basketball Program to give the youth of Niagara Falls an opportunity to play some basketball and receive an important lesson on bullying. Events like this have an impact and make our lives as law enforcement officials easier."

Patrick Jones, director of the Niagara Christian Basketball Program, said, "The sport of basketball provides a great opportunity to communicate to our youth the importance of education, teamwork, sportsmanship and self-esteem in its efforts to help stomp out bullying. We thank Assemblyman Ceretto for sponsoring this great event, and we are looking forward to working with him and Niagara PAL to make this a successful event."

To sign-up your child for the tournament, call Ceretto's office at 716-282-6062 or visit Ceretto's Facebook sign-up at http://apps.facebook.com/my-surveys/mwykd.

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