BLOCKBUSTER ANNOUNCEMENT

Do you recall the George Bailey moment at the end of "It's A Wonderful Life"? When a great company of people rally to save their neighbor in a desperate hour?

Keep that in mind as you read all of this, because, now we have an opportunity to participate in a cause greater than ourselves and help many 'George Baileys' and families like his right here in McHenry County.

Tonight I am pleased to announce the first of what will hopefully become an annual event.

"The Good Guys vs Good Guys Charity Softball Event" - A Benefit for FISH Food Pantry of McHenry County.

On Saturday evening August 29th at 6 PM, the Managers and Assistant Managers of the McHenry Christian Fellowship Softball League will join as a team to play the City of McHenry Police Department and McHenry Township Fire Department in a charity softball extravaganza at Albert A. Adams Park for at least one but maybe two 7 inning games.

FORMER managers of MCFSL are free to join our band of brothers and sisters to play in this game as well.

The City of McHenry PD and McHenry Township FD Softball Team is coached by McHenry PD Officer Eric Sexton and Assisted by my friend and McHenry PD Officer Ryan Pardue. Ryan is a veteran of MCFSL and played on the Alliance team with me a few years back in 2002 when we won the tournament.

The charity angle of the event will be that tickets will be sold at the gate. Suggested donations will be;

$10 per family
$5.00 per single
$3.00 per senior aged 60 and over.

Donations over and above that will be heartily accepted. 100% of ALL proceeds will be used to purchase food stuffs etc. for needy families. Andrea Franzen, Director of the FISH Food Pantry reports they are really hurting due to the huge demands being placed on them by many hurting families caught in the economic crises.

People who can not pay will of course be admitted free of charge.

The Township Government, headed by McHenry Township Supervisor Donna Schaefer, was instrumental along with FISH supporters and volunteers in saving the FISH food pantry from closing its doors after long time volunteers Barb Pierce and Kathleen Moehling retired.

This fun packed evening is sure to draw a large crowd, so plan now to attend this very special event with a noble purpose. But in order to draw that crowd, all recipients of this message need to act to get this event and its purpose promoted within their respective sphere of contacts.

(Church league managers take note; While a bulletin insert would be great, what would be even better is a verbal announcement at the beginning of each Saturday evening/Sunday morning service beginning ASAP.)

Also, please print out a special flyer being made up for this event by Joy Community Churches Assistant Manager, Tracy Keene, owner of Soapbox Studios, a graphic design and web design studio based in Island Lake.

This flyer will be sent to you shortly in a PDF format. Please pass it along to your contact list and get it posted around the county!

This event is to receive a very widespread promotion through the City of McHenry PD, McHenry Township FD, McHenry Township Government, FISH as well as the churches of the league and MORE.

Thus, our goal is to have AT LEAST 500 people, but preferably between 500 and 1000 people in attendance. Thus, it is BYOLC (Bring your own lawn chair).

If just the players in the league show up to support their manager, that is over 300 right there! So you can see why we are thinking BIG - REAL - BIG.

All season long, the managers and assistant managers of the McHenry Christian Fellowship Softball League have devoted a great deal of time and effort to help make their teams and the league as a whole function smoothly. Now, a little reward for all this hard work by giving them the opportunity to participate in this grand event for this noble cause.

All managers and assistants interested and able to play in this game, please respond ASAP so I can name the roster. If you are coming but NOT playing, let me know and I will have a base coach or dugout coach role for you. I will serve as manager and we WILL ALL be using Aluminum bats!!!

Any media, businesses, corporate or community organizations interested in sponsoring this event or coming along side us are advised to contact me via the info below. You will be recognized during the Opening Ceremony.

For more info, be sure to checkout www.churchsoftball.org or e-mail dougp59@gmail.com to track this event.