It all started with a simple graduation party. In June of 1999, a group of graduating seniors from various local high schools gathered for a day of celebration and basketball. Coming together at our backyard in Morristown, approximately eighty-five teenagers joined in on the festivities at the first annual Heaven's Playground Shootout. Teams battled in a 3-on-3 tournament to see who could win the honorable status of the first official winning team of the Heaven's Playground Shootout.

But after the t-shirts were sold, the games were played, and the tournament had come to a close, co-founders Justin Kiczek of Morristown and Greg Walsh of Caldwell realized the future potential Heaven's Playground held.

"With the excitement and buzz that followed the event, we knew there was a great future in store for Heaven's Playground." Kiczek and Walsh brainstormed on how they could make the event bigger and better. Kiczek says, "It was no longer enough for Heaven's Playground to just be a party; we knew it was a chance to reach out to others."

Soon it was decided that the second annual Heaven's Playground Shootout would be a charity basketball tournament in which all proceeds would benefit the Tomorrows Children's Fund. TCF, a branch of the Hackensack Medical Center, is a non-profit organization dedicated to easing the pain if young children suffering from cancer and other life-threatening blood disorders.

So after much meeting and planning, the Heaven's Playground Committee hosted HP2G on June 8th, 2000. Almost fifty players participated in the basketball tournament, along with another seventy-five spectators. Attendees hailed from New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. With the help of t-shirt sales, player fees, and generous donations, HP2G raised over $1640 for the Tomorrows Children's Fund. Also, local businesses contributed to the event by being sponsors. Among them, Hennessey's of Morristown provided food and Cattano's of Morristown provided trophies.

Greg Walsh said of the surprise success, "Going into Heaven's Playground 2000, the first charity year, we weren't sure how much money we would raise for Tomorrows Children's Fund. We would have been happy to raise around $500. Little did we know that we would more that triple that number. Hopefully this year will prove to be just as successful."

Throughout the past year, the Heaven's Playground Committee has worked even harder to, once again, raise the bar even higher. This year, the third annual Heaven's Playground will be held tomorrow on June 2. (rain date-June 3) The tournament will be moved from the backyard court to Lidgerwood Park in Morristown, a facility large enough to accommodate the rapidly growing crowd. Through expanded advertising and fundraising, HP3 is expected to raise even more money for the Tomorrow Children's Fund.

The Heaven's Playground Committee invites you to join the festivities tomorrow at Lidgerwood Park, a facility large enough to accommodate the rapidly growing crowd. Adults, teens, and children are encouraged to stop by and see what the excitement is about. Donations can be made at the event or can be mailed to c/o Heaven's Playground, 37 Mountainside Drive, Morristown, NJ 07960 with checks made payable to the Tomorrow Children's Fund.