Monday, February 11, 2008 
Pictured (l-r) are VTec's Ashley Marble, Derek Lovely, Scott Sanfino, and Caleb Sayward, accepting the first-place plaque from Jon Paradise of the Maine Credit Union League.
The 14th Annual Dr. Noel Paradise Memorial Swish-Out Childhood Cancer Challenge, presented by Maine's credit unions, was held on Sunday, February 10, 2008, at USM in Gorham, and a record $25,515 was raised for the Maine Children's Cancer Program, a 20% increase over last year's record.
Despite a wintry mix of weather, all but one of the sold-out field of 32 teams made it to the gym, as did a steady stream of spectators, to help and watch Maine's longest running benefit basketball tournament of its kind raise another record-setting amount for children with cancer and their families.
The tournament field was comprised of thirty-two, co-ed teams from organizations, businesses and families from around southern and central Maine. Since the tournament began in 1994, the event has now raised more than $121,000 for the Maine Children's Cancer Program.
On the court, 2007 champ, V-Tec Learning Center of South Portland, successfully defended its title by repeating as champion of the 2008 tournament. Runner-up at this year's event was Sandler Sales Institute, also of South Portland. C-It-Sell of Scarborough and South Portland, finished third, while M.R. Brewer Woodworking of Portland was fourth. The top four participants received plaques and all teams received t-shirts and other prizes for participating.
Tournament founder and director, Jon Paradise, Governmental & Public Affairs Manager for the Maine Credit Union League, said the event's success is due to the generosity of sponsors, participants and volunteers who make the event an annual reunion to get together for a special cause. "A number of teams participate in the Swish-Out year after year, and it has been enjoyable to see many of our participants bring their children and help them understand the value of community-service. The ability to make a difference to children with cancer and their families also means a lot to the teams and sponsors involved," explained Paradise.
Paradise, who added his father's name to the event after he passed away in July 2004, said that the event was founded on a simple premise - to help kids with cancer and, although the number of teams participating has grown significantly since the first tournament in 1994, it is still about making a positive impact on children and families throughout Maine. "In 1994, we started with seven teams and raised a little over $500 and, now, we have a full field each year of 32 teams, a record number of sponsors and we surpassed $25,000 in funds raised at the tournament this year. While we have come a long way in the amount raised, the tournament remains based on the credit union philosophy of 'people helping people'."
Paradise said that, because of the support of Maine's credit unions with the event, every dollar raised from sponsors, teams and the silent auction goes right to the cause. He emphasized that all expenses are covered by Maine's credit unions so 100% of funds raised can go directly to the Program, a rarity for most fundraising events.
In addition to the Maine Credit Union League, the lead sponsors for this year's event were Anthem, Dead River Company, Hammond Lumber, National Semiconductor, Time Warner Cable, Wal-Mart, WPOR Radio and TRICORP Federal Credit Union. Other significant sponsors included: Captain Eli's Soda, Casco Federal Credit Union, CUNA Mutual, Insurance Innovations, Kohls, University Credit Union and the University of Southern Maine. A number of other local businesses participated as sponsors at various levels, as well. |
