NORTH WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — Picture this: whistles blowing, people cheering, brightly colored balls flying across a field lined with cones.
If you’re thinking of a gym class, think again.
Thursday's first annual KidsPeace Dodgeball Tournament pitted employees and family members of local corporations against each other, competing in a bracket for the most important prize of all: bragging rights.
But the prize they could all enjoy was the opportunity to support the nonprofit, which provides behavioral and mental health services to children.
“It’s a great day to support a great cause,” Kevin Newby with BSI Corporate Benefits said. “It’s a ton of fun being out here, especially with my teammates.”
The event was organized by the nonprofit’s board of associates, a group of local professionals who work to raise money for KidsPeace.
The money raised went to two KidsPeace initiatives: Moe’s Closet, which stocks household necessities for foster families, and Coping Kits, which have items that help kids get through difficult times.
The tournament
The 12 teams vying for the title included Mother Duckers, Ball Stars and Sha-mashers, a play on Capital BlueCross Chief Executive Officer Todd Shamash’s name.
The competitive spirit was alive and well within the teams.
“We didn’t come here to lose,” Newby, whose team name was Kiss My Assurance, said.
Anne Baum, president of Lehigh Valley Reilly Children's Hospital, competed with the Bedside Brawlers.
“I got down to the point where I was the only person left with holding two balls, and I didn't know what to do,” Baum said.
Baum said there still were five people left on the other team. She did not win.
The ultimate winners were the Ultimate Warriors, a team representing Tuskes Homes.
Bob Scheffler, KidsPeace vice president of Pennsylvania residential, education and hospital programs, said the point of the event was to let adults feel like kids for a while.
“This is the kind of event that brings out the inner kid in all of us adults,” Scheffler said.
‘We can do these things again’
Scheffler said people who live in the region might not know what KidsPeace does.
“Our industry is very private, for very good reason. We deal with very private issues,” Scheffler said.
“And so as a result, a lot of people might live here and not even know what we do or may have heard rumors or stories or just bits of information about what we do.
“So any opportunity to get people on campus to see what we actually do, we really welcome with open arms.”
“I'd love to see some PG trash-talking on LinkedIn."KidsPeace Director of Development Missy Hartney
KidsPeace Director of Development Missy Hartney said that’s why the nonprofit used to hold big fundraisers on its campus, such as a 5k and a mud run.
But ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, the nonprofit has not held large events.
“This is kind of the event to show us that we can do these things again,” Hartney said.
Hartney said she would like to see the event expand in the future, with more companies involved — and a competitive spirit that reaches outside of the field.
“I'd love to see some PG trash-talking on LinkedIn,” Hartney said.
EDIT: A previous version of this story incorrectly identified the winner of the tournament. It was the Ultimate Warriors.
