On September 9, 2017 the Play It Forward Foundation hosted their first event under their new sports model where athletes have the ability to compete in events and raise money for a charity of their choice.  The volleyball tournament took place at Bungs Tavern in Burlington, NJ. 

Teams began flooding in early, the mood was quite light as players, and staff conversed together and casually spoke of their eagerness to start play at 10 am.  After a brief speech by Play It Forward President, Jeff Pagano, match play began and the tournament was off.  Throughout the day, there were plenty of laughs and smiles.

“Our goal at Play It Forward is to provide fun active events for individuals within the sports community who want to give back to the charity’s they hold near and dear to their hearts”, said Pagano. Some of the great charities represented were the American Cancer Society, United Way of Greater Houston, St. Barnabas Burn Foundation, Autism Speaks, and a number of animal adoption and shelter organizations. 

In this tournament, teams selected a charity they wished to represent and were required to raise a minimum amount to enter where that money was used for a prize pot.   After the minimum was reached, anything they raised over that went to their charity regardless if they won or not in the tournament.  A prize pool was awarded of $600 for first place, $400 for second place, and $200 for third place to add to their donation total. 

The team from NJ Volleyball took home first place and raised a total of $627 to be donated to the Burlington County Animal Shelter.  At the end of the day, over $1700 in money was donated to 10 different charity’s. This event was fun and all participants loved the aspect of helping out a charity they could choose while at the same time doing something fun with their friends.