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2,000 see District 25 teachers compete to help suicide support group

Posted April 08, 2016 1:00 am

Daily Herald report

Teachers from Thomas Middle School in Arlington Heights take on their crosstown counterparts at South Middle School in a basketball game to raise money for suicide prevention Friday night at Rolling Meadows High School. photos by Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com

About 2,000 people packed the Rolling Meadows High School gymnasium Friday night for the 11th annual Crosstown Showdown fundraising basketball game between the staffs of South and Thomas middle schools in Arlington Heights Elementary District 25.

This year's showdown raised money for LOSS: Loving Outreach to Survivors of Suicide, which provides counseling and guidance to families and friends of people who have taken their own lives.

Over the years, the showdown has raised more than $50,000 for different organizations, including Make-A-Wish, Kids Fight Cancer and the American Cancer Society.

"It's a great way for our middle school rivalry to come together for an exciting night of fundraising," Dana Hackett, one of the original organizers and a South teacher, said in a news release.

Alan and Fran Baumgartner thank the crowd for coming to Friday's game at Rolling Meadows High School in support of their daughter Megan, who took her own life at 18. The Arlington Heights Elementary District 25 event benefitted for LOSS: Loving Outreach to Survivors of Suicide. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com

Jen Dewar, a teacher at South Middle School in Arlington Heights, warms up before Friday night's benefit basketball game. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com

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