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News Release

DATE: June 10, 2010
CONTACT: Stacey Richez, SAFY
PHONE: (574) 261-6890

For Immediate Release

Gus Macker Tourney This Weekend

Gus Macker, the World’s Largest 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament, is in Fort Wayne this weekend, June 12, 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.

Hundreds of participants of all ages will take to the court for friendly competition. Opening ceremonies will be at 8 a.m. on the main court. In addition to basketball play, the tournament features a family fun zone, which offers a carnival like atmosphere, food vendors and numerous activities and games for people of all ages.

Players will also participate in special events including the Free Throw and the popular Slam Dunk Contest, with the winner walking away with $1,000 in prize money.

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.

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.

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, Fort Wayne Newspapers and WFFT Fox Fort Wayne.

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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