For a great cause, Sherman School students and their parents can watch an entertaining and lively game of hoops at the school’s gym on Wednesday, April 1, from 3:20 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Middle School Hoops Teams will be playing against the Faculty, which is sure to make for an energetic game!

All students who attend will also have an opportunity to participate in a skills competition before the game.

This basketball fundraising event costs at the door $20 per family / group or $10 for an individual / student. One hundred percent of the profits from this fundraising event will go to the Perkins School for the Blind.

It’s Personal…

Dr. Michael Pascento, Sherman School Principal, and Sherman resident and former Sherman School student, Jack Lenihan, are teaming up to raise money and awareness for the oldest school for the blind in the United States, the Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown, Massachusetts.

Both are highly motivated to raise money and awareness for this cause because the reality of blindness hits home for them. For Dr. Pascento, his 14-year-old son has Type 1 Diabetes and, over time, this disease can lead to serious visual impairments and even blindness.

As for 14-year-old Jack, “he suffers from Albinism and is classified as legally blind. He uses many visual accommodations such as magnifiers and enlarged print,” shared Dr. Pascento. Through the years “Jack has taken part in (Outreach) camps at Perkins, and has benefited tremendously from his experiences,” he added.

More Ways to Help…

If you or your family can’t make it to this Friday’s action-packed and fun-filled fundraising event then there will be another opportunity to support both Dr. Pascento and Jack.

On April 20, Dr. Pascento is running in the Boston Marathon and he hopes to raise at least $5,000 individually to support the Perkins School for the Blind. He is one of five runners that will be on the Perkins Charity Team. Collectively, they hope to raise over $25,000.

So, if you happen to be at the Boston Marathon, then please cheer them on! Or, to make a donation, visit the secure fundraising page: https://www.crowdrise.com/PerkinsBoston2015/fundraiser/michaelpascento1

For either event, all donations will fund the Perkins School for the Blind’s on-campus, regional and International programs for children and adults who are blind, deafblind or visually impaired, including those with additional disabilities. Both Dr. Pascento and Jack will appreciate your support.

To mail a donation, make checks payable to Perkins School for the Blind and send to:

The Sherman School, 2 RT 37 East, Sherman, CT, 06784

Attn: Dr. Michael Pascento

An original version of this article ran in the March 18 Edition of the Citizen News, Serving Sherman and New Fairfield, Connecticut.

Written by Alicia Sakal. Contributed Photo.