"The event succeeded beyond our expectations with a sell-out crowd and an exciting game," Edgewood Boys & Girls Club Director Henry Harris said about the March 27 charity basketball match held between the "ShopRite SharpShooters" (employees of Klein's ShopRite) and members of the Harford County Sheriff's Office.
The match, which was open to the public, saw the SharpShooters triumph by the score of 69-56. About 300 people witnessed the match, which donated 100 percent of the gate, individual player sponsorships, raffles and food concessions. Members of the Applause of Bel Air Baton twirling team provided a half-time display and generally "worked the sidelines" during the game.
"All in all," Howard S. Klein, vice president of Klein's ShopRite, said, "we collected $2,200 and donated all the expenses. Plus, Klein's contributed another $800 so that the total donation to the Boys and Girls Club would be a round number of $3,000."
To commemorate the donation, a "big check" ceremony was held on Friday, April 10, at Klein's ShopRite of North Main Street in Bel Air, which also featured a bakery-created cake in the shape of the check.
"I'd like to give thanks to all who participated in this effort to help the kids, an effort dedicated to helping folks understand that the sheriff's deputies are good people, just like us," Dean Waddell, a member of the ShopRite of North Main Street maintenance department and one of the originators of the idea, said at the ceremony. Waddell served as player-coach of the SharpShooters.
Capt. Stephen Thomas, commander of the Harford County Sheriff's Office Community Services Division and player-coach of the deputies squad, took the defeat in good form.
"We hope to be back soon for a rematch," Thomas said.
According to ShopRite of North Main Street Store Director Sandra Welsh, "we're going to make this an annual event, at least."
Sue Gephardt, human resources coordinator at ShopRite of North Main Street, agreed.
"It was a wonderful event – wonderful for the community and for the kids, and we'll definitely be doing it again!" Gephardt said.
For more information, call the Edgewood Boys & Girls Clubs, 410-676-1020.