This year’s event started off with student basketball games which included 40 Pine Valley participants in grades 7-12. Our annual alumni games brought back 30 Pine Valley graduates. The men and women players dusted off their basketball sneakers and returned once again to the Panther’s court to play games with past and present friends and teammates. The day ended with an exciting rematch between the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Departments and the NYS Troopers. The deputies from the Sheriff’s departments prevailed in a very friendly but competitive battle, only winning by eight points. Community in Action would like to thank these local heroes for donating their time and energy to our annual event and supporting the Pine Valley students. Special thanks to Mary Kay Himes and Pine Valley’s Treble Cats for singing the National Anthem to start off the final game of the night. The choral group was nice new addition to our day-long event this year.

The event also included a large Chinese auction with over 150 donated items, 50/50 raffles and concessions. Eight- year old Emma Miller, a previous Pine Valley student who attended our March Madness event, sold her homemade bracelets. She earned $110 and donated all the money to the March Madness Fund.

The Junior class of 2021 also provided entertainment for the children with a carnival full of fun games, prizes and treats. They raised $425 and the money will go towards class expenses like the prom and senior class trip.

Community In Action and the March Madness Committee would like to extend their sincere gratitude to the Pine Valley faculty and staff, administration, students, parents and community members who helped to make this annual event such a success. Whether you donated items for the concession stand, donated to our Chinese auction or volunteered your time, acknowledge and appreciate your support. They would also like to give a “shout-out” to all the local businesses and organizations surrounding Pine Valley Central that donated to our event: SCFCU, NOCO, Leon Fire Hall, NEHS Hardware, Trillium, Center of Attention Hair Salon, Orchard Eats, Cherry Creek VFW, Chautauqua Brick, Dough Boys Pizza, Chautauqua Brick, Cockaigne, South Dayton Hotel, South Dayton Super Market, CCB, South Dayton Fire Department, South Dayton American Legion, Dollar General, CIA, PVTA and our Pine Valley teachers/classrooms.

The Pine Valley March Madness event raised $3,800 for students and families suffering through difficult times. The current Pine Valley boys basketball teams are among those that played in the event and helped raise that money. Submitted Photo.

Not only does our local community support our annual event, but our neighboring communities of Gowanda, Perrysburg, Silver Creek, Irving, Forestville, Fredonia, Dunkirk, Jamestown, Falconer, Kennedy, Sinclairville, Stockton, Westfield, Mayville and Buffalo also supported our students and the March Madness Fund.

A special thanks to the following businesses that donated over $50 of merchandise to our event this year: SCFCU, Leon Fire Hall, Dough Boys Pizza, Cockgaine Ski Resort, S.D. Supermarket, S.D. Fire Hall, Sinclairville Superette, National Comedy Center, Reg Lenna, Wegman’s, Tops Markets, D&F Complete Auto Care, Blasdell Pizza, Liberty Winery and Woman of the Moose Gowanda Chapter No. 651. The following businesses made a donation over $100 in value: Valone Ford, NOCO, NEHS Hardware, Emmerling Ford, Fredonia Chrysler/Jeep, Chautauqua Suites, Chautauqua Institute and Community In Action. All donations were truly appreciated.

This annual event serves as a testimony to what a small community can do when it pulls together. Through the teamwork and generosity of our community this event proved to be an incredibly positive, fun and uplifting experience. We look forward to the participation of our fellow community members again next year!

Eight-year-old Emma Miller sold homemade bracelets to help raise money for the March Madness fund. Submitted Photo.