UNIQU ELY CATHE D R A L
Heart is Where the Hoops Are
U N I Q U E LY C AT H E DRAL
Photos top to bottom: Sixth grader Alisha F. diligently keeps score. Brothers Ameer and Aleem S. share a moment after their 13 minute turns. Fourth graders Ben K. (L), Jules L. (R) admire the free throw form of classmate Will D.
The third annual Hoops from the Heart fundraiser filled the Crypt Gym with basketballs for the best of reasons—to help students in need afford a Cathedral School education
JODY VAN DER GOES P’-. ’-/ was not willing to guess if this year’s Hoops from the Heart fundraiser could meet the $20,000 mark. “I’m hoping for $15,000,” she said, as basketballs rebounded around her. The Crypt Gym was full of pizza boxes, dozens of doughnuts, discarded coats, hats, boots and, most importantly, five basketball nets and what seemed like hundreds of arcing basketballs. Jody’s elder son Hank, now a freshman in high school, helped start the event with fellow ’15 alumna Emily Power in 2014. The premise? Make as many free throws as you can in 13 minutes, and raise money for the Absalom Jones Benefit for Financial Aid. Everybody gets into the act, from kindergarteners to alumni, trying their hand at free throws, rebounding the basketballs, or keeping track of the number of shots made. “We talk about community a lot at Cathedral—this event fits into the school,” Jody said, and a perusal of crowd proves it. Christopher B. ’75 stopped by with his wife Ronda Braxton and second grader Hudson. Alumna (and Upper School basketball coach) Luigia Goodman ’06 made 113 baskets in her turn, cheered on by her team and her mother, Catherine Goodman. Aanal S., father of first grader Aleem and fourth grader Ameer (wearing a Stephen Curry jersey) were going head-to-head at competing backboards. Aanal was keeping track of Ameer’s count —an amazing 104 baskets. His little brother? A more than respectable 51. With those kinds of numbers, Jody van der Goes and the other organizers didn’t have to worry: this year’s event raised $20,000 on the nose. s —Jessie Saunders TH E M A G A Z I N E O F TH E CATH E D RA L SC H OOL O F S T. J OH N THE DI VI NE
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