2015 ‘HOOPS & Hoopla’ Raises More Than $135,000 for Morgridge Academy

12th Annual Fundraiser Sells Out at Infinity Park Event Center in Glendale

More than 400 basketball fans raised $135,000 at the 12th annual HOOPS & Hoopla event presented by Greiner Electric on April 4, 2015. Proceeds from the event support Morgridge Academy, a free school for chronically ill children located on the National Jewish Health campus.

This year’s event was held at Infinity Park Event Center in Glendale, which featured 1,600 square feet of viewing screens for the college men’s basketball semi-final championship games. The sports-inspired fundraiser also included a gourmet buffet and open bar, basketball pop-a-shot, golf driving cage, arcade games and a silent auction.

“Morgridge Academy is at the heart of the National Jewish Health mission,” said Brian Parks, who serves as chair of the Morgridge Academy Committee and on the Development Board at National Jewish Health. Parks himself is a former Morgridge Academy alumnus.

“The students at this unique school are facing every day with a chronic illness. That can mean missing school, sitting on the sidelines during gym class and making frantic visits to the emergency room. Morgridge Academy helps them manage their illnesses and excel academically, physically and socially,” he added.

Morgridge Academy is the only school of its kind on a medical campus in the country. The students who attend Morgridge Academy have diagnoses that include severe asthma and allergies, diabetes, sickle cell anemia, HIV/AIDS, atopic dermatitis (eczema), juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, interstitial lung disease, cystic fibrosis, and muscular disorders. With a dedicated team of teachers, nurses, a child advocate, school counselor, P.E. teacher and fine arts teacher, the students receive a quality education all while learning to manage their illness.

Keeping in spirit with the competitiveness of the collegiate basketball, several committee members served as “Coaches” for this year’s HOOPS & Hoopla. They included Denise Cito with CED; Peter Fox with Trautman & Shreve; William Gregor with Mortenson Construction; Jerry Laflen with BKD; Ashley Lyon with RJM Construction; Ward Mahanke with TST, Inc. of Denver; Tom Tarver with Greiner Electric; Ryan Wilson with GE Johnson Construction Company, and Kris Wintroub with Greiner Electric.

Also recognized for their efforts and dedication were first-year coach Ashley Lyon, RJM Construction, who received the Rookie of the Year award, and Ryan Wilson, of GE Johnson Construction, who received the Heart of a Champion award. The annual MVP trophy, headed by Coaches Kris Wintroub and Tom Tarver, went to team Greiner Electric. Team Greiner raised over $50,000 in sponsorships, ticket sales and donations for this year’s event.

Greiner Electric served as the Presenting Sponsor for the seventh year in a row. Other sponsors were BKD CPAs and Advisors  — Stats Sponsor; Graybar  — Sports Bar Sponsor; GE Johnson Construction Company; Mortenson Construction; Rocky Mountain Prestress  — Slam Dunk Sponsors; Oskar Blues Brewery and Occasions Catering — In-Kind Sponsors; 104.3 The Fan  — Radio Sponsor; and 5280 Magazine — Media Sponsor.

For future HOOPS & Hoopla event or sponsorship information, contact Rebecca Reutlinger at ReutlingerR@NJHealth.org or visit hoopsandhoopla.com.

Morgridge Academy at National Jewish Health is a unique, free day school for 90 chronically ill students in kindergarten through eighth grades. Its mission is to provide a safe, friendly and healthy school environment where students succeed academically, medically and socially.