FARMINGTON – Franklin Community Health Network’s second annual Champions for Healthcare Basketball Tournament will take place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, April 4, 5 and 6, at UMF’s Dearborn Gym. Eight teams will compete in a round robin tournament.

The funds raised through sponsorships of teams will go to two causes: the purchase of equipment for the new mobile health unit, ambassador for the Healthy Community Coalition in providing preventive outreach and health education, and to Evergreen Behavioral Service’s Western Mountains Child Development Program, which will provide therapeutic evaluation and treatment for children and adolescents with pervasive developmental disorders, including autism, emotional disabilities and speech and hearing impairments. This will be one of only three such programs in Maine.

Aaron St. Pierre, chairman, said, “There are a variety of sponsorship opportunities for area businesses, including championship sponsor, gold and silver sponsors, social gathering sponsor and scoreboard sponsor.”

Benefits of sponsorship vary among levels, but may include VIP seating for the tournament games, signage at the reception and awards ceremony, and company name and logo displayed at the tournament game sponsored.

“We are encouraging businesses to sponsor at the highest level, but hope they can become a gold or silver sponsor, so their company name and logo can be placed on signage at the games,” said St. Pierre.

The tournament will consist of two pools of four teams, including the Valley Team, which holds the title to the longest winning streak in the state, six championships. The top two teams from each pool will advance to the championship game on Sunday, April 6.

Local teams and some from as far away as Portland and Bangor have already confirmed their participation, filling the tournament to its maximum number.

For more information, contact St. Pierre at 645-5109, ext. 233, or Maureen Goudreau in the FCHN foundation office at 779-2750.