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News Release

DATE: June 30, 2010
CONTACT: Amy Rode, SAFY
PHONE: (800) 532-SAFY

For Immediate Release

Gus Macker Tourney PLAYER DEADLINE EXTENDED
Be A Part of the Action for the July 17-18th Event

Register Today! The player registration extended until July 5th midnight! Gus Macker, the World’s Largest 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament, is returning to Muncie July 17 –18, 2010. The much anticipated event will be held at the Muncie Central High School Parking Lot and will be hosted by SAFY, a leading foster care and adoption agency.

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 entry fee is $124 per four-person team.

In addition to a weekend of basketball play, the tournament will feature a family fun zone, special events and celebrity appearances. Players will have the opportunity to participate in a Free Throw and Slam Dunk contest. Earl’s Auto Repair again will sponsor the $1,000 slam dunk grand prize. Celebrity guests including Muncie native Ron Bonham, a two-time All-State selection and Indiana’s ‘Mr. Basketball’ in 1960; and Mike Scudder, World’s Best Free Throw Shooter and Macker Free Throw Champion.

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.

Festivities will kick off Friday night with team registration from 4-7 p.m. as well as a fundraising dinner to support the foster children of SAFY. Bring your family and your lawn chair to enjoy Mud Eye Joe’s performance from 6-7:00 p.m. Ron Bonaham and Mike Scudder will be on hand for autographs as well.

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

Sponsors and volunteers are still needed for the weekend basketball tournament activities. If you are interested in being a sponsor, please contact Rick Johnson at (765) 702-4122 or e-mail johnsonr@safy.info or Vicki Hombaker at (765) 286-5703 or e-mail vhornbaker@lifestreaminc.org.

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.

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