Powerhouse basketball teams from St. Peter's Prep, Hudson Catholic or the now-closed St. Anthony's High School would not only bring prestige to their schools but also needed revenue from ticket sales.
The Scholarship Fund for Inner-City Children in the Archdiocese of Newark seized on that concept by bringing the best boys and girls teams together for a day of top competition.
Next Sunday, the fund's 15th annual festival -- the 10th at Kean University -- gets underway at 10 a.m. and ends around 9 p.m.
The festival starts with a girls game between Oak Knoll and Roselle Catholic at 10:30 a.m.
Then, the boys hit the court.
St. Joseph's, Montvale, plays St. Peter's Prep at noon; Hudson Catholic meets St. Benedict's Prep at 1:45; St. Mary of the Assumption plays Roselle Catholic at 3:30; and Trenton Catholic goes against Immaculate Conception, Montclair, at 5:15.
The final game has Union Catholic playing Bergen Catholic with a 7 p.m. tip-off.
"I want to thank all of our schools, coaches, players and the fans for supporting the Scholarship Fund and our mission to provide an educational alternative for those who seek our assistance," Gerry O'Connor, SFIC executive director, said.
Indeed, there are many families who turn to the SFIC and would not be able to attend Catholic schools without its financial aid.
Eighth-grader Roger Rivera of St. Augustine School, Union City, for example, has received an annual $1,000 scholarship since first grade; his seventh-grade sister, Samantha, has as well.
"They would not be able to attend without the aid," mom Virginia Diaz said.
She and her husband, Robert, have three older children. She knows that the Union City public schools are good but says they "are nothing compared to Catholic schools where they learn about God."
Sister Lillian Sharrock, the school's principal, helps the families complete their applications and is proud that 50 of her 190 students receive from $1,000 to $2,000 a year in aid to help pay the $4,650 tuition.
"They make a big difference to poor families," Sharrock said.
This school year, the fund has given a total of $2.1 million to 1,488 students.
Among those students are 489 from Hudson County, 358 of them in 13 elementary schools and 131 in high school.
Since 1983, the fund has awarded 50,000 scholarships.
Still, O'Connor said, the need is so great that the fund has to turn away as many applicants as it awards.
The fund receives donations from individuals, parishes, business leaders and corporations, and the daylong basketball festival is expected to raise up to $20,000.
O'Connor is grateful to Dawood Farahi, the president of Kean, for offering the basketball arena free of charge and to Kevin Cummings, president and CEO of Investors Bank, for his support. Cummings, a Jersey City native, graduated from St. Peter's Prep in 1971 and was a star basketball player there.
"We are excited about the schools and teams that are participating and know the fans will be seeing future collegiate and NBA stars,'' O'Connor said.
Several SFIC alumni currently play in the NBA, including Boston Celtics guard Kyrie Irving (St. Patrick's, Elizabeth), Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl Anthony Townes (St Joseph's, Metuchen), Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith (St. Benedict's, Newark), San Antonio Spurs guard Kyle Anderson (St. Anthony's, Jersey City) and New York Knicks forward Lance Thomas (St. Benedict's).
The SFIC board consists of 19 members from the business community, including attorney Kenneth Kunzman, a senior partner with Connell Foley & Geiser.
The board members not only solicit donations, O'Connor said, but are also personally generous.
Donations are always welcome.
"It's an excellent program," Sister Lillian said. "It gives parents - and children - hope." And a Catholic school education.
EDITOR'S NOTE: The Rev. Alexander Santora is the pastor of Our Lady of Grace and St. Joseph, 400 Willow Ave., Hoboken, 07030, FAX: 201-659-5833; Email: padrealex@yahoo.com; Twitter: @padrehoboken.
If you go ...
Investors Bank sponsors the15th annual Scholarship Fund for Inner-City Children Basketball Festival on Sunday, Jan. 7, at Kean University's Hardwood Arena in Union.
For tickets, call (973) 497-4278 or visit www.sfichoops.com for more information. Tickets start at $4.
Verizon Fios will broadcast highlights of all the games and play-by-play action of select games.
Donations to the SFIC are tax-deductible and may be mailed to: SFIC, Chancery Office, 171 Clifton Ave., PO Box 9500, Newark, NJ 07104-0500.