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News Release

DATE: May 25, 2010
CONTACT: Stacey Richez, SAFY
PHONE: (574) 261-6890

For Immediate Release

Gus Macker Tourney PLAYER DEADLINE EXTENDED
Be A Part of the Action for the June 12-13th Event

Register Today! Player deadline extended until Monday, May 31, 2010 at midnight! Gus Macker, the World’s Largest 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament, is coming back to Fort Wayne June 12 –13, 2010. The much anticipated event will be held at the Parkview Field Parking Lot and will be hosted by SAFY, a leading foster care and adoption agency, and the University of Saint Francis.

Whether you’re just a beginner, a seasoned pro or a weekend warrior, four-person teams are now being formed. Entry forms are available on-line at www.macker.com.

The Macker computer matches teams by age, height and playing experience to ensure fun for all participants. There are male and female divisions for adults and kids ages 10 and under, 11-12, 13-14, 15-16 and 17-18. The entry fee is $132 per four-person team.

New this year will be the Dream Court which provides youth teams with a chance to play on a synthetic court where their game will be announced by expert play-by-play commentators, just like you see in professional play! Youth teams are randomly selected to participate.

Last year the Macker hosted over 90,000 players and nearly 1.7 million spectators in 55 cities, including Fort Wayne and Muncie, Indiana. All proceeds from this year’s event will benefit SAFY foster youth making the often difficult adjustment to independent living and the University of Saint Francis athletic scholarship fund.

"I remember wondering what it would’ve felt like to have a mom give me a few bucks to go to the mall with my friends, plan a summer vacation, or just do things with me intentionally that would have given me the life experiences I needed to grow into adulthood. These things matter. They mattered to me…and they matter to all foster youth transitioning into adulthood," says Dawn Folsom, former foster youth.

Sponsors and volunteers are also needed for the weekend basketball tournament activities. To help make the event possible, the city of Fort Wayne and the Convention and Visitors Bureau have granted a $10,000 Sports Business Development Grant. Other sponsors include: Holiday Inn at Coliseum, Summit City Radio, Tin Caps, and Fort Wayne Newspapers. If you are interested in being a sponsor, contact contact Vanessa Wade at 1-800-532-SAFY ext. 1055 or wadev@safy.org

"The Gus Macker is a family-friendly event and like SAFY, supports healthy children and families in our community," says Dru Whitaker, President and CEO, SAFY. "We are so pleased to be cohosting this prestigious community event."

In addition to a weekend of basketball play, the tournament will feature a family fun zone, food vendors, numerous activities and games for people of all ages. Players can also participate in special events such as the Free Throw and Slam Dunk contests.

History of Gus Macker

The original Gus Macker 3-on-3 Baketball Tournament was started in 1974 by Scott McNeal (alias Gus Macker) on his parents’ driveway in Lowell, Michigan. It started with 18 friends playing competitively.

The tournament continued to grow and in 1987 took to the road because of a tremendous demand from communities nationwide. With major media coverage by Sports Illustrated, ABC “Wide World of Sports”, ESPN and USA Today, the Macker has grown to national prominence. What makes the tournament special is still today it is run in a hometown, friendly manner, prohibiting alcohol or tobacco-related sponsors.

About SAFY

For over 25 years, children who have experienced the worst in life have found hope through SAFY. More than the traditional foster care agency, SAFY is a private not-for-profit organization focusing on treatment, intervention, adoption and the placement of children whose intensive needs cannot be managed through traditional foster care. Today, SAFY programs and services go beyond therapeutic foster care and extend to thousands of families across the country.

About University of Saint Francis

Located in Fort Wayne, the University of Saint Francis is a private, Catholic university with 2,000 students in majors ranging from the liberal arts, to the creative arts, to the health sciences. Small class sizes, personal attention, and the freedom to explore your options—a USF education has a lot to offer.

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