Lakesider hosts charity basketball event to benefit first responders, City Harvest
Virtual contest will honor student's grandfather who died of Covid-19
A Levy-Lakeside student is channeling his love of basketball into helping others affected by the coronavirus pandemic. This Tuesday, Michael Minniti, 9, of Merrick, will host a virtual foul shot contest on Instagram Live to raise money for City Harvest and the First Responders' Children's Fund.
The fourth-grader developed the idea for "Hoops to Help" after he lost his grandfather, 71-year-old Anthony Minniti, to Covid-19 on March 27. "I just got really sad about what was going on," Michael said, "so I started talking to my mom and said we should start a charity to help every person who’s struggling like we were."
It was only natural that the fundraiser involve basketball — Michael plays for mutliple leagues, including Bellmore Merrick Basketball, Empire Youth Athletics and Island Garden Basketball. It's his favorite sport "by far," he said.
"Hoops to Help" will be broadcast live from the Minniti's driveway, with participants tuning in remotely from their own home courts. For the contest, each player will have two minutes to make as many foul shots as possible. Participants can get sponsored for every shot they make or contribute one flat donation; prizes will be awarded to the highest score-getters (see box).
Additionally, for every $50 a player raises, their name will be entered into a raffle to win a signed basketball from NBA player Mason Plumlee, who plays for the Denver Nuggets. Michael's mother Cindy said that Plumlee heard about the contest from a mutual friend. He decided to contribute after learning that Michael attended Duke Basketball Camp — Plumlee is an alumni of the university.
"We've been overwhelmed by the community's response," said Michael's father, James. "With this quarantine, people need something to look forward to, and it was a nice way of turning something sad in our family into something positive."
Although Minniti lived in New Jersey, he never missed one of Michael's basketball games, Cindy said. "He even had a file started for when Michael makes it to the NBA," she added, choked up. "He was a huge part of our family and such a giving and generous person. He would be so proud of his grandchildren for this."
Michael said he was excited to give people something fun to do while helping those in need. "We’re trying to help as much as we can," he said.
For more information, follow @hoops.to.help on Instagram.
