On January 29th, the Delaware Citizen Corps, led by Marny McLee (Citizen Corps & CERT Program Manager), sponsored the First Annual Preparedness Night with the Delaware 87ers D-League Basketball, a D-League affiliate of the Philadelphia 76ers. The 87ers play at the Bob Carpenter Center on the University of Delaware Campus in Newark. The game was co-sponsored with Director George Giles, Wilmington EOC/Citizen Corps Council, and Dave Carpenter, Emergency Manager for the New Castle County EOC/Citizen Corps Council. Partner organizations on hand with a display tables were the Delaware Emergency Management Agency, Delaware's Division of Public Health, the American Red Cross, Delaware Medical Reserve Corps, UD Public Safety/Emergency Management, the Center for Disability Studies, UD Citizen Corps Council, and the State Office of Volunteerism. The team wore the Citizen Corps Logo on the front of their shirts, the Citizen Corps Logo was on the on the court, and a banner was presented, which will be displayed the entire season. There was a silent auction of the players' shirts, with the proceeds being donated to the American Red Cross. Citizen Corps/87ers key chain flashlights were given to the first 3,000 fans, and there was a Bouncer and Face painting for the kids. In addition, children ages twelve and under could go on the court after the game to shoot a foul line shot. The theme of the night was “Family and Faith Night”, and the fans were treated to a free post game concert by the “Journey Church Band.”
Marny, George, Dave, and his staff members were invited into the locker room for the pregame Coaches Chalk Talk and game plan with the players. Marny, George and Dave were introduced pregame for the game-ball presentation to the referees. Marny gave a Citizen Corps/CERT Presentation in the VIP Lounge at halftime to approximately thirty other 87ers sponsors, while George and Dave joined him on court again during the third period for the CCP game shirt presentations. Overall it was a great night for Delaware Citizen Corps, and a great beginning to our new partnership with the Delaware 87ers.
