On Thursday night, February 1st, the “Giving Hearts” crew from West River Health Services Foundation descended on New England with a roar! Less than a week after their highly successful “Giving Hearts Night with the Nighthawks & Eagles” boys’ basketball event in Scranton on Friday, January 26th (measured in smiles, dollars raised, and relationships cemented), the WRHS Foundation packed up for New England and were met with a community hungry for love. And was it ever provided – mutually!

West River Health Services Foundation’s “Giving Hearts Night with the Tigers & Nighthawks” girls’ basketball event finally arrived on the first day of our second month; after six weeks of pounding the pavement with approval from New England School and receiving sponsorships from nearly every business in New England, the area community came through the new doors at New England School like there was something to see – and was there ever! Our area youth from New England, Hettinger, and Scranton are “hustling their hearts out” for the name on the front of their jerseys. Even the 5th/6th-grade girls went up and down the court with hustle and at times, grace! The 5th/6th-grade game refereeing may have been a little suspect, but certainly not the heart displayed by the young female hoopers.

The NE gymnasium was nearly packed, as it holds nearly double or triple what Scranton’s or Hettinger’s gym would hold -- so that’s saying quite a lot! They came to see what this “Giving Hearts” was all about! Entering the gym they got the hint that it was a giving day on February 8th, with something about giving online at givingheartsday.org, as there were red and white signs almost everywhere that said so! Plus, huge posters all over the beautiful new gym saying “WELCOME to GIVING HEARTS NIGHT” and “HUSTLE!” and “DREAM” and “BELIEVE” and “TOGETHER” plus, a HUGE “THANK YOU” poster near the entrance, including all of the 16 sponsor’s business names! There were hearts, flags, red tinsel, and signs everywhere on the gym walls with slogans and keywords or phrases on each. The players, statisticians, and student managers were all in either red or white Giving Hearts t-shirts, depending, on which team you, were on. All of the coaches (including the 5th/6th, “C” JV, and Varsity) had either red or white polo shirts. All are supplied by sponsors! Even the 5th/6th graders from Hettinger-Scranton (yes, they traveled) and New England, had red and white “Giving Hearts” t-shirts to play in and keep, while they dribbled, passed, and shot a red and white striped basketball at halftime of the JV game. It was fun to watch, especially for the grandparents!

The admission was free – covered by the three Platinum Sponsors (Fitterer Oil & The Hub, Edward H. Schwartz Construction Inc., and Helena Agri-Enterprises); and the popcorn was free, via Gold Sponsors Centennial Insurance and New England Insurance. Plus, the youth and coaches all got to keep their Giving Hearts t-shirts and polo shirts thanks to more local Silver Sponsors – McKenzie Mercantile, Bravera Bank, Feel Good Coffee Company – and Bronze Sponsors – Country Style Salon, Wolf Body & Glass, Dakota West Credit Union, Golden West Bar, New England Drug, CHS Southwest Grain and Graphic Attic. Thank you to all sponsors – nothing like showing your love for your local hoops players and healthcare system! And thank you fans – with gifts of $50 or more, they received “commUNITY – Together We Win!” t-shirts.

Between the JV and Varsity games, a “Comfy Couch Live Auction” was held to see who would receive the right to sit on the comfy couch during the Varsity game. Mark Zimmerman, the local auctioneer from Hettinger, did a tremendous job of selling the four seats, raising over another $1,000 for the healthcare system. It helped the bidders knowing Ted Uecker would then agree to deliver as much pop, water, pizza, popcorn, and candy to them as they could possibly eat and drink – before and during the varsity game!

At halftime of the Varsity tilt, the Slope Electric Cooperative “Free-throws for Pledges Shootout” was held. Over the past four weeks, the WRHS Foundation rounded up the top current girl’s high school players from each team and top former women’s players from New England and Hettinger-Scranton. Nighthawk star Laela Jensen and Tiger Senior leader Sophie Olsonawski each shot five free throws for a “TEAM Jenawski” total score. Jensen hit 2 of 5, and Olsonawski hit the Money ball (last shot worth two points) for 4 of 5, giving them a team total of 6 of 10. Jessie Slinde-Binstock, former ace of Velva High’s 1998 Championship Team and UMary’s 2000 NAIA National Championship Women’s Team, started out a little rough. But with the newly instituted rule of shoot ‘til you make, then the keeping track moves forward, she did alright – making 9 of 10, including the 10th shot Moneyball for two points, so she ended with 10 of 10! Jodi Jung, a former New England star in the early 2000s (who stepped in for Superintendent Scott Jung the day before), started out terrific, hitting her first two! But had a few ins and outs toward the end and finished with 5 of 10. That darn Moneyball would not go in for Jodi! But how now nice of her to step up at the last second to shoot for healthcare! How terrific of all of these young women to help us! Last, we had Bailee Pierce, the former Nighthawks star who played on three state tourney teams and was an All-Region performer herself, who sent us a video of her shooting ten free-throws at Allen Fieldhouse at the University of Kansas in Lawrence. We all got to watch it on the Jumbotron in the new, New England Cafeteria/Commons/Concessions area. We’re talking a huge, huge screen! She made 9 of 10, was successful with her 10th Moneyball, and therefore, scored 10 of 10! Outstanding! If you haven’t seen this video, go to Facebook under Ted Uecker and give it a play. It’s sensational! How terrific of Bailee to do this for our local hoops and healthcare!

As for the games themselves, the “C” and “JV” games were won by New England, with the Nighthawks from Hettinger-Scranton winning the Varsity game. No matter the outcome – it was fun! During some timeouts and quarter breaks, the host WRHS Foundation was throwing sponsor and Giving Hearts Day hats, t-shirts, and sweatshirts into the crowd. Even some red and white basketballs, teddy bears, charcuterie boards, red sleds, and red coolers were given away!

Special thanks to the staff at New England School and all of the local business sponsors for making this event possible. And to all of the fans for giving, pledging, and smiling! And to all of the players who keep us all going to the games! We hope you had fun! We are still receiving pledges and gifts. So we are definitely smiling here! As soon as we know the final totals, we will report them to you. Please know that WE ARE GRATEFUL. Special Thanks too, to Teresa Nielsen and her staff at the WRHS New England Clinic for accepting gifts and pledges and explaining the night to all of the incoming fans.

Our next event leading into Giving Hearts Day is this Wednesday, February 7th, 10am-close at Kennedy’s Fresh Foods, at 200 North Main Street in Hettinger. They have a “FRESH PRODUCE GIVING HEARTS TRUCKLOAD SALE,” where you can fill your bag to the top with fresh fruits and vegetables for only $20! Then Kennedy’s will “pay forward” $5 for each bag to the West River Health Services Foundation. The WRHS Foundation will be there from 3-7 pm to sign you up for $10 or more gifts, placing you into a drawing for three awesome prizes – 1) One Full Loin Ribeye Steak Bundle, 2) Seafood Dinner for Four at Hettinger Country Club on March 22nd, and 3) a Griddle Supplies Kit. Thank you longtime partner Kennedy’s!

If you haven’t already given, we hope you will consider going online to givingheartsday.org, search “West River,” tap on our logo, and give safely by credit card. Or, you can write a check to “WRHSF” with “Giving Hearts Day” written in the memo line and call Ted at 701-567-3666 to come and pick it up! We are hoping to receive gifts prior to or on Thursday, February 8th, Giving Hearts Day. However, we are always open to receiving gifts at any time of the year. And, we do accept cash – but cash gifts do not count for Giving Hearts Day. However, it always counts at West River Health Services Foundation. Onward! Ted Uecker, FDO