From left to right: Ed Lewi Associates Director of Sales and Events Brooke Bardack; Ed Lewi Associates President Mark Bardack; Berkshire Bank Vice President Commercial Lending Justin Ducharme; Hannaford Supermarkets Community Relations Specialist Brian Fabre; Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy; Capital District YMCA President and CEO David Brown; MAAC Commissioner Rich Ensor; SMG Regional General Manager Bob Belber; ACCVB President and CEO Michele Vennard; Capital Region Sports Foundation Co-Chair Brian Akley; and I LOVE NEW YORK Sr. Public Information Specialist Eric Scheffel.
Recognition and donation to Capital District YMCA comes on the eve of NCAA Women’s Basketball Albany Regional
ALBANY, New York; – Local business, political and civic leaders today presented the Capital District YMCA with a $2,500 donation in recognition of the organization’s efforts in running the inaugural I LOVE NEW YORK 3-on-3 MAAC Corporate Challenge. The tournament was held earlier this month in conjunction with the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships.
A total of 14 teams from area businesses and organizations participated in the I LOVE NEW YORK 3-on-3 MAAC Corporate Basketball Challenge, including: AYCO; Berkshire Bank; The Bonadio Group; CAP COM Federal Credit Union; Capital District YMCA; CDTA; City Rocks from Odyssey Energy Solutions; Hannaford Supermarkets; National Grid; Northwestern Mutual; Pioneer Bank; and the Times Union Center.
The tournament was made possible through a partnership with the New York State Division of Tourism, which is also presenting the I LOVE NEW YORK Women’s College Basketball Fan Fest. The I LOVE NEW YORK Fan Fest will be held inside the Times Union Center Atrium on Saturday, March 24 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Monday, March 26 from 5 to 7 p.m. as part of the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Albany Regional, which will include some of the best collegiate women’s basketball teams in the country.
The Albany Regional will get underway on Saturday with an 11:30 a.m. matchup between the University at Buffalo and defending national champion South Carolina. The second game will start at 2 p.m. and features a matchup between Duke University and the number one seed UConn, which will be seeking its 12th national championship.
The winners of each contest will face each other in the Albany Regional Final on Monday, March 26 at 7 p.m.
The I LOVE NEW YORK Fan Fest will feature a variety of entertainment designed for hoops fans of all ages, including a DJ, basketball-themed inflatables, performances from college and university pep bands, face painters, balloon artists and jugglers. Fans will also be able to purchase NCAA merchandise, as well as festival foods. Admission to the I LOVE NEW YORK Fan Fest is free.
For more information, visit www.albanyfanfest.com.