FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Valerie Avery
March 15, 2005
(325) 572-5983; 829-8449
Hoops, Dreams and Goals Tournament On Tap for West Texas Centers for MHMR Clients
BIG SPRING – Clients from the 23 rural counties served by West Texas Centers for MHMR will participate in an all-day basketball tournament March 24 at Howard College’s Dorothy Garrett Coliseum.
“Hoops, Dreams and Goals” will involve clients with mental retardation and the people who work alongside them every day assisting them with every day living skills, job training and education. More than 400 people are expected to participate.
Opening ceremonies will begin at 9:30 a.m. with Big Spring Mayor Russ McEwen issuing a proclamation designating March as Mental Retardation Awareness Month in Howard County.
West Texas Centers for MHMR and Howard County Arc plan yearly events to draw attention to mental retardation during the month of March.
“Every year we plan something fun for our consumers and their families and our employees to educate the public about mental retardation,” said Shelley Smith, West Texas Centers for MHMR CEO. “I think the Center and Howard County Arc, along with Howard College have really outdone themselves this time. I think it will be a fun event that will be occurring during the NCAA March Madness tournament.”
Tip-off will be at 10 a.m. with games continuing throughout the day until 5 p.m.
Eight teams, including two from each region will participate in the single-elimination tourney. All teams will receive identical “championship” trophies and each participant will take home a medal, said Cindy Smith, West Texas Centers for MHMR Public Information Officer.
Each team also will have its own cheerleading squad.
Other activities scheduled during the tournament include free throw shooting contests; dribbling and passing exhibitions.
Lunch will be provided and a sack lunch will be provided for the ride home.
The tournament is sponsored by West Texas Centers for MHMR, Howard County Arc and Howard College.
West Texas Centers for MHMR provides care for more than 2,200 people with mental retardation and mental illness and their families in 23 counties in West Texas.
Counties served by West Texas Centers for MHMR are Andrews, Borden, Crane, Dawson, Fisher, Gaines, Garza, Glasscock, Howard, Kent, Loving, Martin, Mitchell, Nolan, Reeves, Runnels, Scurry, Terrell, Terry, Upton, Ward, Winkler and Yoakum counties.