Benefit Concert to Raise Money for New Scoreboards

The West Islip Hoops Club has organized dozens of local sponsors and booked a cleverly named band to headline a benefit concert that will take place on October 15 at 7:30 p.m. inside the newly named

Money raised from the concert will go toward two new scoreboards in the high school gym. But the Hoops Club also decided to donate portions of all proceeds to a multitude of sports teams, including; boys volleyball, softball, cheerleading, football, boys soccer and gymnastics.

, co-organizer of the event along with Bob Christiansen (of the WI breast Cancer Coalition), said they've sold about 250 tickets (as of early September) but there's seating for up to 800 people.

"There’s only one scoreboad in the boys gym, which is I don’t know how old," Hillier said.  "It’s basically beyond repair.  We’re tyring to raise money for a two new ones, and this is the idea we came up with."

Featured will be the popular band Mike DelGuidice and Big Shot, known for performing Billy Joel hits and other classic rock tunes throughout the tri-state area. 

There will also be 50/50 raffles available and a grand prize raffle of a 42-inch flat screen television, which was donated by one of the sponsors. 

All tickets are $25 and can be purchased here.  If you're supporting a specific team/club, make sure to enter the correct promo codes as follows:

• Cheer for cheerleading
• Volley for volleyball
• softball for softball

If you don't enter a code, you'll automatically be supporting basketball, wrestling and gymnastics. 

"I'm really looking forward to it," Hillier said.  "It's an event that will help a lot teams." 

For more information about the event, contact Chris Hillier through e-mail (Chillier@Optonline.net) or by phone (631-445-9026)