Thank You John Quinn

To the Editor:

For the past five summers, Newtown’s Rising Stars summer basketball program has provided a wonderful setting for hundreds of middle school-age athletes to participate in a well-organized, competitive basketball league. Those taking part in the program, no matter their age or ability, are evenly divided among a dozen or so well-balanced teams, with coaching provided by both high school basketball players and parent volunteers.

Putting this all-volunteer program together every year is a monumental undertaking, requiring countless hours of planning and organizing. Although there are a number of people who take part in this process, this program would not get of the ground every year without the tireless efforts of John Quinn. John represents the very best in community volunteerism, as his sole motivation in running this program, year in and year out, is to give the kids something healthy and fun to do during our long summer evenings.

To truly appreciate the magnitude of the work that goes into organizing this program, just imagine processing hundreds of enrollment forms, while making every effort to accommodate each and every request for one player to be assigned to his or her best friend’s team, or, listen in while John personally calls each and every player in the program to inform them of their team assignment and game schedule.

This program by itself is a perfect illustration as to why so many parents choose Newtown as the community in which to raise their families.

On behalf of the hundreds of families that have benefited from the pleasure of watching their kids play organized basketball on warm summer nights, thank you John Quinn!

Adam Drummond

5 Old Bridge Road, Sandy Hook                             September 9, 2003