Swish-Out charity basketball event raises $45K for Maine Children’s Cancer Program
Courtesy / Town & Country FCU
Town & Country's Swish-Out Childhood Cancer Challenge, held Jan. 27 at the University of Southern Maine in Gorham, raised $45,000 for children with cancer and their families. Shown here are Team WEX member Jackie Doyle in red, a former WEX employee, and Jaclyn Storey of The Franchise, a group of hoopsters that won the Elite Division championship.
A charity basketball tournament on Sunday sponsored by Town & Country Federal Credit Union raised $45,000 for children with cancer and their families, bringing the event’s 25-year total to $525,000.
The Annual Swish-Out Childhood Cancer Challenge, as the event is formally known, is Maine’s longest, continuous-running, three-on-three coed charity basketball tournament.
It was founded in 1994 by Jon Paradise, Town & Country’s vice president of public relations and communications. This year’s gathering, held at the Hill Gymnasium at the University of Southern Maine in Gorham, saw more than 200 adults and young people take to the court to raise money for the Maine Children’s Cancer Program. All funds raised go directly to the cause.
Paradise said in a news release that when the tournament began, seven teams raised $575.
“Fast-forward to this year, and we had close to 50 teams and, with this year’s total, surpassed the $500,000 mark in total funds raised since the beginning, “ he said. “It’s really remarkable how people have embraced this event over the years, and an example of what people can do when they come together to make a difference.”
While Town & Country has supported the event for a number of years, Paradise told Mainebiz this was its first as the presenting sponsor.
Other major sponsors were Tyler Technologies, PCH Media, WEX, Portland Pulp, M.R. Brewer, Tricorp FCU, Hannaford Supermarkets, Martin’s Point Healthcare, Bob’s Discount Furniture, Back In Motion Physical Therapy, radio station WPOR 101.9, Moody’s Collision, Blue Wave Basketball, and USM Huskies Athletics.
David Libby, president and CEO of Town and Country FCU, said in a statement emailed to Mainebiz that the opportunity to help children with cancer and their families “aligns with the credit union’s commitment of supporting events and causes that benefit our community. We are proud to support the work fo the Maine Children’s Cancer Program through the Swish-Out.”
Town & Country Federal Credit Union has more than 38,500 members, $386 million in assets, and operates six branches in Saco, South Portland, Portland, and Scarborough. Libby told Mainebiz recently that the credit union plans to add 25 to 30 employees this year.
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