CBA's team at top even off the court

The basketball team at Christian Brothers Academy in Albany has earned its nickname even off the court.

As the 2005 Section 2, Class AA champs, "The Brothers" excelled on the hardwood, but they also score points and show signs of brotherly love through their volunteer efforts on behalf of the needy.

The team members include Pete Scialdo, John Cahill, Greg Holle, Mick Doemel, Luke Weaver, Kellen Byrnes, Palen Andreozzi and Matt Agan.

Volunteers

For the past two-plus years, the teammates have logged significant volunteer hours to make a difference in the lives of seriously ill children and their families at the Ronald McDonald House near Albany Medical Center.

The players have also kept busy with a variety of other fund-raising events, such as manning the microphones during a winter radiothon.

"It's great to get out into the community as a team and do things that help others," said senior Matt Agan, who is from St. Helen's parish in Niskayuna. "Participating in community service allowed us to look at things from a very different perspective than we normally see in school."

All together

Matt continued: "Working together as volunteers and raising money for Ronald McDonald House allows us to see some things that we don't find on the basketball court. We met some kids that have some serious problems."

"The radiothon was one of the first events for me as a volunteer," noted sophomore Greg Holle, a parishioner of St. Pius X Church in Loudonville. "When I saw some of the kids and how sick they were, I could only imagine what they and their families must be going through.

"For me, taking that competitive edge that we have on the basketball court and using it to raise money to help those families is what I wanted to do."

Fun times

In addition to the radiothon, the team also participates in Family Day, a fundraising event at the Saratoga Racetrack in August. Last year, they provided games, face-painting and family activities. They estimate that the efforts raised close to $5,000 for Ronald McDonald House.

"That's always a lot of fun because there are so many people that come to the track," noted junior Palen Andreozzi, also of St. Pius X parish. "I really love working with the kids. Some are ill; others are siblings of sick kids. I figure how lucky I was growing up, and I can't do enough for them.

"These kids have had worse times than any of us, and giving just a little time out of our day to help them really means a lot to them. I just want to make things a little easier for them."

Busy schedules

Each summer, the team volunteers to staff the concession stand at the stadium in Troy where the Valley Cats play baseball. They also hold a car wash and participate in the Crop Walk in the spring.

"It makes me feel really good to be able to help someone out this way," said Mick Doemel, a parishioner of St. Pius X. "We get to do this activity as a team, and I hope we are making a difference for even one kid. If we can help a family member not have to worry about where they're going to stay while their child is being treated, then it's been worth it.

"I remember one woman that came all the way from Africa with her son. She had no place to live while he was being treated at the hospital and no money. She lived at Ronald McDonald House for a long time."

Hands-on help

The hoopsters also donate hours to directly helping families at the house. "We usually have a Valentine's Day party and a Halloween party for the kids and families," said Palen.

Matt added that the team also gets together three or four times each year to have pizza or cook dinner at the house.

"We've all learned a lot from these kids and their families," he explained. "They've taught us that there is more to life than how many points you can score in a basketball game."

(5/26/05)