The Dream Team, a Westfield High School club that encourages students to make healthy decisions and provides drug/alcohol free social events to the school community, recently held a special tournament to help raise money toward sponsoring a visit from former NBA basketball player Chris Herren. Herren, who struggled with substance abuse for much of his basketball career, now shares his story with schools and other audiences.
“It was a fun night for a great purpose,” says Susan Kolesar who, with fellow Dream Team adviser Lauren Hauser and the Westfield Municipal Alliance, organized the May 3rd event. “The winning teams received great prizes from generous community businesses such as Halo Salon, Chipotle, Satsang Yoga, Alluem Yoga, Chartwells Food Service, Riju Nails, Vicki’s Diner, La Famiglia Sorrento and Thirty-One Gifts.”
Participants competed in a variation of dodgeball with each team using foam balls to try to knock over an opposing team’s pins.
Kolesar says that over the past few years the club’s fundraising efforts have been directed at local and national charities. This year’s efforts, she says, will go toward a September assembly for high school students featuring Herren and sponsored by the Westfield Municipal Alliance.
Herren, a former point guard for the Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets, shares his story of abuse and recovery in his memoir “Basketball Junkie.” According to his website, ahoopdream.com, he has been alcohol and drug-free since August 2008, launching “Hoop Dreams with Chris Herren” in June 2009 and traveling the country to speak to schools, athletic teams, community groups and others.
Students wishing to become involved with the Dream Team should contact teachers/advisers Lauren Hauser at lhauser@westfieldnjk12.org or Susan Kolesar at skolesar@westfieldnjk12.org. To learn more or to get involved with the Westfield Municipal Alliance which sponsors the Dream Team and other efforts aimed at preventing and raising awareness of substance abuse, contact Louise DeDea at westfieldalliance@gmail.com.
Photo by Westfield Public Schools.
(above) Members of Westfield High School’s Dream Team held a recent fundraiser with monies raised to go toward an assembly in September with former NBA basketball player Chris Herren. (front row l-r): Adriana Vergara, Stephanie Alpizar, Jaimie DeDea, Sophia Pappalardo, Chloe Pappalardo. (back row l-r): Dream Team advisers Susan Kolesar and Lauren Hauser and students Steven Zucker, Anna Rossen, Luke Ertman.
