"Hoops for Haiti" even raises funds for Haiti relief

To help raise money for the NEIU Haiti Relief Fund, the Physical Education Department, along with comedian Vince Acevedo, hosted the "Hoops For Haiti" event on Feb. 17. However, this fundraiser was much more than a basketball game.

There were entertaining events throughout the course of the basketball game that helped get the audience more involved, including a dizzy free throw contest, a Zumba dance demonstration at halftime, and a basketball version of musical chairs. Various gift cards were given to winners of each event.

Acevedo's team, dubbed the Comics, played against the NEIU team, Golden Eagles, which consisted of students, as well as faculty members from the P.E. Complex.

Acevedo, currently a senior at NEIU, has been performing stand-up comedy for the past 5 years. He has worked with Donnell Rawlings, better known as Ashy Larry from "Chappelle's Show," and also Deon Cole, a former writer for "The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien." Acevedo got the idea for "Hoops for Haiti" from an annual event he began hosting two years ago. His event, "Ballin for a Cause," is a toy drive for underprivileged kids at Norwegian Hospital in Chicago.

Last December, 200 toys were raised through the event. When the Haiti disaster struck, Acevedo, along with Dave Merrill from the P.E. Complex, decided to co-host "Hoops for Haiti".               "Even if it's a little, it helps," said Acevedo.  He hopes this type of fundraiser inspires others and becomes "contagious".

The score remained relatively close throughout the first half. It was not until the second half that the Golden Eagles made their move with a combination of defense, good shot selection and hustle.

Although the Golden Eagles defeated the Comics 70 - 62, despite a late effort and a flurry of three pointers by the Comics, the real winner was Haiti.