Visit the Photo Gallery for additional photos of AHA's Honorary Captain at Tuesday's game against William Tennent.
Rick Leonetti had a feeling he might be onto something special as he was explaining the Athletes Helping Athletes ‘Honorary Captains’ program to the Neshaminy girls’ basketball team.
“As I spoke, it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop,” said Leonetti, who is president of the organization that works with special needs children. “As I spoke, I saw tears well up in their eyes and saw warm smiles on this faces. It was like, ‘This is going to be a really good thing.’”
It turns out it was.
On Tuesday night, Danny ‘Star of the Show’ Piccari was the Honorary Captain at Neshaminy’s game against William Tennent. It is the only the third game that has included the AHA captains, but it is already making an impact.“It’s been really rewarding,” Redskin junior captain Jen Slivka said. “We are not only influencing our teammates but also the people around us.
“This showed us that there are more important things in life than going to school and playing basketball, and we can really affect the people around us. When you see how their faces light up – things we take for granted like throwing a ball back and forth – are huge tasks for them, but when they do it, they feel so accomplished. It’s great.”
The addition of the Athletes Helping Athletes – an organization that supports and raises funds for special needs children in Bucks County – has been a win-win.
Sidu, the first AHA honorary captain, was so overwhelmed by the excitement that he suffered a seizure at the game. Still, his parents called it one of the best nights of their lives, and Tracy Shunkwiler, who works with the Intermediate Unit and helped arrange for Sidu’s involvement , sent coach Joanna McVey an e-mail that spoke volumes about the experience.
“I need to say that I couldn’t have been more proud of your team,” Shunkwiler wrote. “The girls were loving, sensitive, caring, funny, gentle, sweet and respectful. I have special needs children in my family and have quite a bit of experience with mainstreaming students with regular-ed students.“It is the exception and not the rule that regular-ed students are as wonderful with the kids as your girls were.”
The Redskins lost their first game with an Honorary Captain to a strong Abington team.
“I went up to the Honorary Captain after the game and said to him, ‘I’m really sorry we lost the game,’” McVey said. “He looked at me and said, ‘You did?’ It didn’t matter, and as serious as we all take this stuff, it puts such a great perspective on it.”
For the Redskins, having Honorary Captains is more than just a formality. The captains and their families are met at the door by the varsity, and the fun begins the moment they arrive.
“When they first get there, we play with them for a little bit – dribbling and throwing the ball with them,” Slivka said. “While we’re in our team huddle or getting ready for the game, our jayvee takes them and does the same thing.”
Prior to the game, the Honorary Captains go to center court with team captains Slivka and Kelsey Ryan. They receive a medal and t-shirt and have their photo taken with the team. They spend the varsity game in the stands with the jayvee players while their families spend the game with a host family.
“You look forward to every home game just for the aspect of winning but even more now,” Slivka said. “It’s a great experience. Every game has a new kid that you have a chance to influence.”
The basketball team’s initial involvement with AHA began through a connection between McVey and Joanne Corless, whose son A.J. is involved with AHA.
McVey and Leonetti began talking, and after a preseason scrimmage at Cardinal Dougherty where Leonetti is an assistant, the Redskins listened as Leonetti explained the program. The seeds had been planted.“I constantly tell them how fortunate they are and the gift they have been given,” McVey said. “As a group, we need to give something back and show appreciation for what our kids have because a lot of kids don’t have what they have.
“We have done (local) clinics in the past, but we wanted to do something more.”
The Redskins plan to take their involvement with AHA a step further. They have volunteered to help with a clinic for special needs children in Northeast Philadelphia.
“The kids have been awesome,” McVey said. “I can’t tell you how good they have been with these kids.
“During the National Anthem, you’re usually thinking about how you have to win that game, but this has put things in such a great perspective.
“You see these kids before the game, and you see what we take for granted. It’s been a refreshing change. We’re out scouting games and treating it like it’s the end of the earth, and this has put a great perspective on things. It’s been a wonderful experience.”
McVey credited Denise Slivka, president of the Booster Club, for her role in making it happen as well.
“It’s been working out,” Denise Slivka said. “The girls have really gotten into it. They just love it.
“The girl who was the captain on Friday night had such a big smile – it just makes you feel so good. I think it would be good if every district did it.”
The Redskins are certainly a walking advertisement for the program.
“It’s a lot of fun meeting new kids,” Jen Slivka said. “Just to see the smiles on their faces – it really makes their day.”
Leonetti admits he has been impressed with the Redskins’ efforts on behalf of the special athletes.
“They have done an absolutely tremendous job with this already,” he said. “Joanne does a tremendous job. It’s more than coaching with her. She really cares about these kids and giving back to the community.
“It’s incredible what they’re doing.”
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