The Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City will host the second annual Chris Ford Memorial Basketball Tournament on June 7-9, 2024, at the club’s Evolution Arena, 317 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Atlantic City, N.J. The weekend will honor the memory of basketball player and coach Chris Ford and recognize those in the community who are continuing his legacy.
Honoring Those Who Continue the Legacy
Liane and Lloyd Levenson and Evolution will be presented with the Chris Ford Memorial Award at the June Madness Kickoff Cocktail Party at the Evolution Arena on Friday, June 7 from 5:30 – 7:30 pm. Liane and Lloyd Levenson, along with Cooper Levenson Attorneys at Law, have supported the Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City for more than 40 years. In addition, Liane led the committee to renovate the Teen Center area. Award co-recipient Evolution provided $300,000 to complete the project. The event will feature an awards ceremony, members of Chris Ford’s family, and a special news announcement for the Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City.
Competing for a Cause
On Saturday and Sunday, there will be an 8-team, single elimination basketball tournament. Corporate teams and community sponsors will play for the Club Cup. Each of the teams is required to have two female players on their roster to underscore the important role that women play in sports, and to show members of the Boys & Girls Club that any goal is attainable to them. For tickets and more information, visit https://www.acbgc.org/junemadness2024/.
“The community has embraced this event as a way to support the pivotal programs that empower our youth, especially those who need us most,” said Dr. Charles A. Wallace II, CEO, Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City. “We are thankful to all who have supported us, and proud to be able to remember an individual who made such a difference in the lives of our kids. Chris Ford volunteered his time as a coach and mentor in our recreational basketball program. His influence has touched countless colleagues, fans, and youth in the Atlantic City area, and we are honored to continue that legacy.”
An Atlantic City native, Chris Ford graduated from Holy Spirit High School. He attended Villanova University, where he led his team to three consecutive NCAA Tournaments. From there, Ford was drafted to the Detroit Pistons in 1972 and eventually went on to finish his time as an NBA player with the Boston Celtics in 1978. Ford was part of the Celtic’s NBA Championship team in 1981 but is perhaps best known for making the first official three-point shot in professional basketball history. He spent his final years in the NBA as a coach, ending with a tenure at the Philadelphia 76ers.
Chris Ford has a long history of volunteerism with the youth basketball programs at the Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City. Throughout the 1980’s and 1990’s, he volunteered his time to coach and mentor Club members who were playing recreational ball in its gym. In 2021, Ford served on the GO HOOPS Committee to renovate the gym into a state-of-art arena. He passed away in early 2023; the Club and community recognize his legacy with the NBA as well as his influence and involvement in Atlantic City and its surrounding communities.
About Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City:
The Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City is a nonprofit organization that has been providing a safe and nurturing environment for the youth of Atlantic City for over 50 years. Our mission is to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. We offer a wide range of programs that focus on education, leadership, health, arts, and more, helping children and teenagers build essential life skills and develop into well-rounded individuals. For more information about the Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City – visit acbgc.org, call (609) 347-2697, or email Executive Administrator Brianna Register at bregister@acbgc.org.
