McDonald's Tournament Produces Hefty Check for Classroom Teachers
Posted on 02/03/2014
Deer Park ISD Education Foundation Coordinator Sheri Brown (left), together with Deer Park ISD Superintendent of Schools Arnold Adair and Pasadena ISD Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kirk Lewis, join Pasadena ISD's Education Foundation Director Cindy Parmer in the acceptance of two proceed checks from the Texas Invitational Basketball Tournament.
Chairman of the McDonald's Texas Invitational Basketball Tournament Ben Meador handed out two hefty checks to the Pasadena and Deer Park Education Foundations on Thursday night representing the proceeds from November’s tournament.
The Pasadena ISD Education Foundation received a $177,404 check and Deer Park ISD Superintendent Arnold Adair was present to accept a $65,416 check for his education foundation.
The Texas Invitational Basketball tournament, now in its eleventh year, is one of the largest high school basketball tournaments in the nation featuring 80 boys and girls teams from across the state. Since its inception in 2002, the tournament has contributed well over $1 million to help fund mini grants for classroom teachers.
“When we first started the tournament,” said Meador, “It was our belief that if it could be done in another community we could not only do it, but we could do it better.”
Meador noted that the tournament would not have been possible without the generosity and support of the sponsors and volunteers including this year’s Volunteer of the Year recipient Vicki Villarreal.
Villarreal, who first started in Pasadena ISD in 1992 and now serves as the assistant principal at Gardens Elementary, was awarded the Volunteer of the Year award from the Texas Invitational Basketball Tournament committee. While serving as the team captain for the past five years, Villarreal continuously found ways to involve both teachers and students in her school to help with the tournament.
“The bottom line is that this tournament brings good things to the community,” said Meador. “And that’s what this tournament is about.”
