Dwayne “Swoop” Simpson helps Lucas Blankenship spin the ball on his finger tip during the Harlem Wizards BCSF fundraiser at Columbus North High School gymnasium, Sunday, March 6, 2022 Carla Clark | For The Republic
Columbus is being visited by wizards with a brand of magic that specializes in slapstick and slam-dunks on the basketball court.
Players from the Harlem Wizards’ King Arthur Unit are stopping by Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. schools today to create excitement for their upcoming match against a team of teachers and administrators led by Superintendent Jim Roberts. The game, which is a fundraiser for the district’s foundation, will be held at 2 p.m. on March 5 at Columbus North High School.
More information and a link to purchase tickets is available at bcsfstars.org.
The Harlem Wizards describe themselves as a “show basketball entity delivering wildly successful fundraiser events for schools and nonprofits.” The team is known for their trick shots and comedy-filled gameplay.
The Wizards game is a major fundraiser for the Bartholomew Consolidated School Foundation (BCSF). According to Director Nicole Cunningham, last year’s event raised more than $21,000.
While the foundation also holds other fundraiser events such as 5Ks, the proceeds raised from those efforts are restricted to specific funds, said Cunningham. The funds raised through the Harlem Wizards game are unrestricted, which allow the foundation to use these dollars wherever needs arise. Almost all of the proceeds will go to teachers and staff grants, which are administered through the foundation’s Lightning Grants program and its partnership with Donors Choose.
Cunningham said it would be great if BCSF could match or even top last year’s amount, though this may not be possible due to tighter profit margins.
“The Wizards organization, they were like, ‘Hey, with travel costs increasing and everything, we might recommend raising ticket prices,’” she said. “But we actually declined, because I think right now it’s important, even if we don’t raise as much money, I just think it’s important to keep prices affordable for families here in the region.”
Her goal, instead, is to aim for a larger crowd. About 2,000 people attended last year’s game, so she’s hoping for 2,500 or more.
Cunningham said that tickets for last year’s game mostly sold in the two weeks prior to the game. However, she recommended that anyone who wants to purchase Courtside Plus tickets — which come with perks such as a meet-and-greet with the team before the game — should buy theirs as soon as possible, as these sold out quickly last year.
“The North gym is one of the biggest high school gyms in this state, so the estimated number of seats, I thought they told me, was 6,000,” she said. “So we can sell 6,000 tickets. So that’s what we’ve set it to. I would love to fill that gym, let me tell you that. I would love to fill it. Because last year, even with the 2,000 people in there, it was very boisterous, and it was honestly just a perfect day. And I hope to do even better this year.”
