Rotary hopes to score with Harlem Ambassadors fundraiser

The Maricopa Rotary Club is bringing the Harlem Ambassadors, a traveling co-ed basketball team, to Maricopa High School April 29 to play a team made up of local leaders.

Rotary member and Journey United Methodist Pastor Eric Brown said the club invited the Ambassadors to come to Maricopa because another Rotary club had them visit and had a great time.

Community members such as Mayor Christian Price, Vice Mayor Edward Farrell, Ak-Chin Tribal Chairman Louis J. Manuel Jr. and Deputy Fire Marshal Eddie Rodriguez will face high-flying slam-dunks, ball-handling tricks and comedy routines the Ambassadors are known for.

“The Harlem Ambassadors is the group that travels more and goes to smaller markets, like Maricopa,” Brown said. “They do all the same tricks as the Globetrotters do.”

Price said he is happy to participate in the game because it is benefiting a good cause. He may even have his own tricks up his sleeve.

“I’ll come up with a way to get them back,” he said.

Tickets are $10 and are available at Great Western Bank and Headquarters Café. Children 4 and younger get in free.

Brown said the club has 1,000 tickets to sell.

“We’re hoping for $10,000,” he said.

Brown said some of the money will go toward scholarships for graduating high school seniors.

“The other chunk will be spent on the Rotary pool,” he said. “We host about 3,500 swimmers a year, so it’s well utilized by the community and this will help pay for it.”