By Polly Lynn
updated
Wed, Apr 4, 2012 09:52 AM
RUTLAND-Watch Rutland local celebrities take on the Showboat
Robinson's Fabulous Harlem Clowns on the basketball court, Friday,
April 13 at 7 p.m. at the Rutland Middle School gym.
Local celebrities include Mayor Louras, Michael Coppinger and
various athletes from the region. Dave Wolk, president of Castleton
State College, will be the acting as the coach for the local All
Star Team. "If I can provide some comic relief then I'll do it,"
Louras told The Mentor Connector, the non-profit organization
bringing the Clowns to town.
The Harlem Clowns are a professional team of basketball players
that will captivate the audience with basketball wizardry,
hilarious antics and fan interaction. The Harlem Clowns bring a
message of pro-education and anti-drugs to each show, stressing the
importance of "just say no to drugs and yes to life, education and
family."
They are the 2nd oldest comedy basketball team, after the Harlem
Globetrotters. Their act combines the traditional, unpredictable
fun of Globetrotter-style comedy basketball with a unique education
program that addresses the many risk factors that affect
youth.
The primary goal of the show is to encourage kids to work hard,
stay in school, and avoid drugs and alcohol. This season the Clown
will play over 50 games around the USA and across the globe.
"An important aspect of our tour is that we're bringing this
unique form of entertainment to cities and towns that haven't' had
an opportunity to see it before," says "ShowBoat" Robinson, the CEO
of the Harlem Clowns.
The team is made up of former Globetrotters, collegiate
All-Americans and ex-NBA players who will preform rim rattling slam
dunks with concert-like musical scores.
Each of their games also benefits either a local charity or a
school program. "I feel it's important to leave something of value
behind for the people who came out to support us," Robinson says.
Collectively, the Harlem Clowns have helped to raise millions of
dollars for charities and educational programs.
The Mentor Connector of Rutland County partnered with the Clowns
to bring this event to Rutland, April 13. It is the Mentor
Connector's biggest event for the year and they hope it proves
popular.
The Mentor Connector is a nonprofit organization that matches
youth age 8-18 with adult mentors in Rutland County. Mentors share
life lessons and everyday responsibilities of adult life as well as
help teach basic social interactions and etiquette.
Rutland County's success with this program is above average
compared with other programs across the county. Nationwide about
50% of relationships between mentors and men-tees last through the
first year; in Rutland it's upwards of 97% with 87% of the
couplings extending for another year.
In fact, "five years is the average length of a relationship in
our mentor program," says Executive Director Rebecca Majoya. And
the program is growing. In the last three years The Mentor
Connector has gone from 35 pairs to 103 total couplings. "We are
very excited about our growth. We simply couldn't have done it
without the outreach of support of all size business in the area
and our network of dedicated volunteers," says Candy Jones,
outreach coordinator.
To join the Mentor Connector welcoming the Harlem Clowns to Keefe
Gymnasium in Rutland Middle School. You can buy advanced tickets by
calling 775-3434. Tickets are also available at the door: $10 for
adults, $8 for children 5-18, and under 4 are free.
Tagged:
Showboat Robinson’s Fabulous Harlem Clowns, Basketball
