News: Loudoun County's "Hoops for Heroes Night" Raises Whopping $16K for Wounded Warrior Project

U.S. Army Specialist Josh Wetzel, with wife Paige on right, receives a
signed basketball from Loudoun County High junior Maggie Phillips

(Feb. 8, 2013) - Loudoun County High School junior Maggie Phillips and the girls and boys basketball programs set the bar high when she and her classmates organized the first "Hoops for Heroes Night" in January. The goal was an ambitious $10,000 that would go towards the Wounded Warrior Project.

They didn't reach $10,000 ... they blew past that mark as Phillips says that the final tally for the big night was a whopping $16,092 raised.

"The night was a success -- there was a lot of patriotism and appreciation," said Phillips. "Our guest of honor, U.S. Army Specialist Josh Wetzel spoke to us all during halftime about what the Wounded Warrior Project has meant to him and it inspired people to donate."

Editor's note: That the Raider boys and girls varsity basketball teams defeated Leesburg rival Tuscarora that night were truly secondary ... there were no losers on the evening, only winners ... The standing ovation that Wetzel received from the fans when he went to center court was a moment that I will not forget.

News: Loudoun County's Hoops for Heroes is Halfway to Raising 10K Goal with Big Night Scheduled for Jan. 24

(Jan. 8, 2013) - The Loudoun County High School basketball program's Hoops for Heroes Night, which will be held Jan. 24 when the Raiders boys and girls teams take on rival Tuscarora, is halfway to a goal of raising $10,000 for the Wounded Warrior Project. The next phase of fundraising includes a very cool t-shirt hand-designed by Washington Redskins tight end Chris Cooley.

"I'd like to thank everyone for your amazing response so far to the LCHS Hoops For Heroes Night which will be held Jan 24th, 2013," said organizer, Raider junior Maggie Phillips. "So far we have raised close to $5,000 (through Sponsorships) toward our total goal of $10,000 total for the Wounded Warrior Project."

According to Phillips the next phase of fundraising consists of:

• ONLINE DONATIONS visit the event webpage at: https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org/individual-fundraising/LCHSHoopsForHeroes/
   
•  RAFFLE TICKET SALES Michael Anderson, varsity boys captain, is coordinating the raffle of an iPad Mini and the winner will be drawn/announced during halftime of the boys varsity game on Jan. 24. All players from the five Raider basketball teams will be selling tickets. Tickets will also be sold at the event (winner does not have to be present to win).
   
• T-SHIRT SALES Chris Cooley from the Washington Redskins has hand-designed and generously donated 500 Reebok t-shirts with an amazing logo and artwork to commemorate our big night. T-shirt sales will begin shortly. If you purchase a shirt and wear it to the game you will get in free! 

Please contact Phillips at go2hitter@aol.com with any questions regarding the event. Katerina Kushner, the Promotions Chairman, or Michael Anderson can also answer any questions.