Schools

Bloomingdale Students Take on Faculty in Charity Basketball Game

The event will benefit a nonprofit started by Ken Block of Sister Hazel to help battle pediatric cancer.

News Report

The of Bloomingdale is giving students at the chance to beat their teachers … in a friendly game of basketball.

The restaurant at 4330 Bell Shoals Rd., Valrico, has announced its continued partnership for the third consecutive year with Lyrics for Life with the 2012 Bloomingdale High School Student vs. Faculty Basketball Showdown Friday, May 11 at 7 p.m.

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Tickets to the showdown are $5, and 100 percent of the proceeds will go to Lyrics for Life, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to make a difference in the fight against pediatric cancer. Beef O' Brady's also will give away a year's supply of free wings to the winner of the half-time shoot-out. The event is open to the public.

On May 11, the restaurant also will host a Spirit Night during which 10 percent of all sales will be donated to Lyrics for Life. 

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"This is an event we sponsored the last two years, and it was fantastic," said Valrico-Bloomingdale Beef O'Brady's owner Cormac McCarthy. "I hope to sponsor it every year. Beef's is all about family and sports, and this event combines both. My hats off to Bloomingdale High School and the support they give."

McCarthy is also looking forward to raising funds for pediatric cancer.

"The Student vs. Faculty Basketball Showdown is a fun event that benefits an amazing cause,” said McCarthy. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to lend our support in the fight against pediatric cancer through Lyrics for Life and we are excited to see who will be triumphant this year. I’m personally rooting for the students.”

The students have been victorious the past two years. But McCarthy said the real victor is Lyrics for Life. The past two showdowns raised nearly $3,000 for the cause.

In addition to the food and atmosphere, people also take a quick liking to the Beef O’ Brady’s of Bloomingdale because of the restaurant’s dedication to community outreach. Since the company’s inception, each Beef O’ Brady’s has been committed to strengthening local ties through philanthropic partnerships and volunteerism. 

Lyrics For Life is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded by Sister Hazel front man Ken Block in memory of his younger brother, Jeffrey, who ultimately lost his four-year battle with cancer.
 
The charity unites musicians and celebrities for concert events, auctions and other fundraising efforts. The monies raised are donated to groups that are working to find a cure as well as those aiming to enrich the lives of patients and their families through summer camps and family support groups.

"Beef's supports two main charities throughout the year," said McCarthy, "the Mike Alstott Foundation and Lyrics for Life. I had an opportunity to meet an opportunity to meet Ken Block. He's very outgoing and passionate about his platform to help kids with cancer."


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