JAY – The momentum of the inaugural Jake Lord Play It Safe Foundation alumni basketball games last year carried over into this year’s event, held Nov. 29 at Spruce Mountain High School.

More than 50 players from the Jay and Livermore Falls alumni and alumnae and the Spruce Mountain boys’ varsity and Spruce Mountain boys’ alumni teams took to the hardwood for a series of games to benefit “The Jake Lord Play It Safe Foundation”. The games were held to honor the memory of Jake Lord, a 2011 Jay High School graduate and athlete who died by suicide in November, 2011.

Jenna Lord, Jake’s sister and the foundation’s organizer, was delighted at the show of community support for the basketball games last week.

“I cannot imagine a more successful 2nd Alumni Basketball Game event,” she said in an e-mail. “I am overjoyed with all of the support we received. I feel so blessed to be apart of such a generous and loving community.”

More than $6,000 was raised to benefit the foundation. It was formed to purchase high quality helmets and other sports equipment to help reduce the likelihood of brain injuries and concussions to young athletes. This is coupled with training for coaches and sports equipment managers in the care and maintenance of equipment.

The foundation also is instituting concussion awareness and baseline screening programs for athletes, their parents, and youth sports coaches and trainers. It promotes state and local policies in school and other youth sports programs to protect youth from concussions and brain injuries.

For more information on the foundation, visit https://www.facebook.com/JLPISF.

Jenna Lord said that she was grateful for all of the volunteers that stepped up to help.

“We had so many people help to make this years games so successful. Jessica and Chris Bessey are surely to thank for all of their hard work. I am also thankful for all of the people that donated raffle items, food and baked goods, and for the countless hours from all of the volunteers.”

The following sponsors made donations to the event:

• Tim Pond Camps
• Napolean’s Peanuts
• T&T Lawn Care
• Apple Orchard Day Care
• Tom Goding & Sons Building Contractor
• Jay Rent a Tool
• Jo’s Hair Fashion
• Sunshine Pools
• The Hair Doctor
• Riverside Kwik Stop
• Precision Tanks
• Shelly’s Hometown Market
• Damon Photography
• Aramark
• Otis Federal Credit Union
• Little People and Me Daycare
• Cold Mountain Builders
• Bar Harbor Bank and Trust
• ABT Plumbing
• Argo Marketing Group
• Hillside Sports Club
• Verso
• Mohawk Paper Company

Jenna Lord noted that several individuals made generous donations as well.

The girls’ alumnae huddle together during the alumni basketball games at Spruce Mountain High School on Nov. 29.

The Spruce Mountain boys’ varsity and Spruce Mountain boys’ alumni face off.

Shown here are some of the donated items that were raffled off at the alumni basketball games.

Left to right: Larry, Jenna, and Sandy Lord are shown at the alumni basketball games at Spruce Mountain High School Nov. 29. The event was held to benefit “The Jake Lord Play It Safe Foundation”.