15TH ANNUAL“GLOVES, SWEAT AND CHEERS: SAFE AT HOME” WOMEN’S softball tournament TO BENEFIT WOMEN’S CRISIS CENTER

Saturday July 11th and Sunday July 12th community volunteers will be hosting the 15th Annual “Gloves, Sweat and Cheers: Safe at Home” women's softball tournament to benefit the Women’s Crisis Center.

The tournament will held at Brattleboro’s Living Memorial Park, with games commencing on the upper and lower ball fields at 8:00 a.m. Saturday morning and 9:00 a.m. Sunday morning. Teams from around New England will vie for top honors.

Organizer Loretta Palazzo says, “It’s just amazing that we are now in our 15th year of this tournament. We have high hopes that such a milestone will really bring the community out to support this fundraising effort. There is a real buzz about this tournament throughout the Northeast. In addition to lots of local teams, we will also host teams from Connecticut, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. It’s a really fun way to enjoy the outdoors and raise money for a local organization doing very important work. It’s even more fun when the community comes out to support the players at the games. The players and volunteers will provide the gloves and sweat, but we need our community to come out and provide the cheers!”

Team and player fees generate a good portion of the funds raised. Community members can help add to the total by purchasing snacks, T-shirts and raffle tickets. Raffle items have been donated by Randi Solin, Natalie Blake, Lynette Pritchard, Jamie Coulter, Walker Farms, the Chelsea Diner, Top of the Hill Grill, Offerings Jewelry Store, Boomerang, Burrows Specialized Sports, Brown and Roberts and more! Tickets are available at Boomerang prior to the tournament, and at the main booth in Living Memorial Park throughout the tournament.

A benefit dance party at the Weathervane Music Hall on Saturday night will contribute to the fundraising and the fun-raising efforts of the weekend. SugarHouse, a Brattleboro based funk/rock band will be providing the music starting at 9:00. Donations will be taken at the door.

Last year’s fundraising efforts generated nearly $4000. Organizers are hoping to raise over $5,000 throughout the fun-filled weekend. 100% of the funds raised through this weekend long event will be donated to support the vital work of the Women’s Crisis Center.

Founded in the early seventies, The Women’s Crisis Center’s mission is to end domestic and sexual violence against women and children by providing support to survivors and education for the community. Their services include a 24-hour hotline, shelter for women and children, advocacy, outreach, education and prevention and support groups. All services are free. Volunteer based fundraising is critical to their continued efforts.

“It is important that our fundraisers are volunteer led community events that positively impact women. The annual ‘Gloves, Sweat and Cheers: Safe at Home’ tournament is a wonderful opportunity for the entire community to come together in celebration and support of our work,” say Donna Macomber and Vickie Sterling, Co-Executive Directors of the Women's Crisis Center.

Volunteers interested in helping during the tournament can contact Loretta Palazzo at 257-6911.

Donations can be made directly to the Women’s Crisis Center at P.O. Box 933 Brattleboro, VT, or by calling 257-7364.