GREENSBORO SPORTS COUNCIL DISTRIBUTES FUNDS TO HAECO INVITATIONAL SCHOOLS

For immediate release.                                                                                    April 21, 2016

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Greensboro Sports Council donated $112,000 to the eight schools that participated in the 40th anniversary HAECO Invitational presented by NewBridge Bank last December, the Council announced today.  In addition, the Sports Council donated $19,000 in scholarships and charitable contributions from tournament proceeds. The 41st annual HAECO Invitational is set for Dec. 26-29, 2016 at the Greensboro Coliseum Special Events Center with exact dates still to be determined. 

The $112,000 donation total works out to $14,000 for each of the eight participating schools.  Prior to the school donations, the Council awarded four $2,000 Bill Lee Scholarships, made a $5,000 donation to the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center in memory of longtime Greensboro Sports Council member Worth Holleman, a $5,000 donation to the North Carolina High School Athletic Association and a $1,000 donation to the Corrigan Faircloth Chapter of the National Football Foundation to sponsor a scholarship.

In recent years, the Greensboro Sports Council made the following donations to the HAECO Invitational participating schools following that year’s tournament:

2008: $96,000                                     2009: $80,000                                     2010: $86,000

2011: $100,000                                   2012: $108,000                                   2013: $112,000

2014: $112,000                                   2015: $112,000

“Since it was founded 40 years ago, the HAECO Invitational has always been about raising money for its participating schools,” Greensboro Sports Council president Dan Goley said.  “Charitable donations and scholarships are also part of the mix, but at the end of the day, the HAECO Invitational mission is to raise money for the schools that play in the tournament.  It’s gratifying that businesses and individuals throughout our community support the HAECO Invitational year after year – that consistency shows that they believe in our mission and understand how much the schools count on the funds.  We appreciate our title sponsor, HAECO Americas, our presenting sponsor, NewBridge Bank, and the many additional companies and individuals that help us fulfill our mission.”

The field for this year’s 41st annual HAECO Invitational will feature men’s and women’s teams representing the same schools as last year: Dudley High School, defending men’s champion Greensboro Day School, Grimsley High School, Northern Guilford High School, defending women’s champion Northwest Guilford Vikings, Page High School, Ragsdale High School and Smith High School.  Due to other events tentatively scheduled for the Greensboro Coliseum Complex in late December, this year’s exact tournament dates have not yet been finalized.

The HAECO Invitational presented by NewBridge Bank is an annual high school basketball tournament in Greensboro, N.C.  Founded in 1976 as the Little 4 Invitational, the tournament features men’s and women’s teams representing eight Guilford County high schools playing at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex.  Tournament proceeds are donated to local charities and the participating schools; the HAECO Invitational is planned and implemented by the Greensboro Sports Council.  For more information, please visit www.HAECOInvitational.com and follow the event on Twitter: @HAECOinvit.