‘Play Your Heart Out’ Supports Children’s Hearts
The event, held at the MJCCA gym on Sept. 7, included competitions in wiffleball, basketball, and pickleball.
More than 100 athletes filled the Marcus Jewish Community Center gym on Saturday, Sept. 7, to kick off the annual Play Your Heart Out for Save a Child’s Heart event. The event, which now includes a walk/run, yoga, and competitions in wiffleball, basketball, and – this year’s highlighted event – pickleball, began with just one event in 2017.
“Eight years ago, we started a 3-on-3 basketball tournament to raise money for Save a Child’s Heart,” said Billy Steuer, one of the event’s organizers. “Brad Rosen had an idea with his boys, to get them involved with giving back to the community and doing something for others.”
Rosen had got the idea after returning from a mission trip to Israel sponsored by the Frank family.
“The whole purpose of the Frank mission is to come back after the trip and give back to the community,” said Rosen, “I met with Rabbi Spike Anderson. He was on the board at Save a Child’s Heart. He wanted to start an Atlanta chapter when he moved here.”
This is where members of Save of Child’s Heart U.S. branch, like their Young Leadership Director Nancy Pardo, came in.
“Save a Child’s Heart is a humanitarian organization located in Israel,” said Pardo, “We provide life-saving cardiac surgery to kids who don’t have access to medical care. We bring them to Israel, and they stay with us approximately three months, that’s pre- and post-surgery, and we literally save their lives. That’s who we are.”
Vivian Bass, Board Director of Save of Child’s Heart U.S., also notes the how important this event has been to the organization.
“Play Your Heart Out, over the years, has funded dozens of children, saved lives from dozens of children all over the world,” said Bass, “Save a Child’s Heart supports children now in 70 different countries, and we have saved the lives of over 7,000 children. Each year, Atlanta, this beloved community, raises funds so they can save the lives of three, four, five, six children.”
At the event’s kickoff, Rosen celebrated graduating seniors Macy Meyers, Darron Beldick, and Ryan Altman.
“They’ve been with me, with us, for almost every year. I want to acknowledge that, because they shine, and they’re’ true leaders in our community. They’re always the first to respond – they always call and say ‘hey, what else can I do, what do you need?’”
“I’ve been a part of Save a Child’s Heart for I think five years now,” said Altman. “Honestly, I really started out just because I wanted to play basketball with my friends in the 3-on-3 tournament, but I immediately learned what a great organization it is, and I just knew I wanted to get involved and have a bigger role.”
Altman also walked away with the championship for the 3v3 basketball tournament, something he and his friends/teammates, Gabe Alterman and Jake Baras, had been practicing towards for years.
“We played in this for five or four years, and we always had injuries, or something’s gone the wrong way,” said Alterman, “But it just feels good to finally get it done, and even better to do it for such a good cause, and do it with my friends, and do it in my own community. It just feels great.”
“Every time we come out here, we have a great time, and we’re doing it for the community, and that’s the most important part,” said Baras.
Meanwhile, the pickleball tournament was kicking into high gear at the new Eva G. Lipman Pickleball Complex, where attendees included the 2022 U.S. Open champion, Frank Solana, who was selling paddles to benefit the charity.
This was the first official tournament to be held at the courts, which were finished as part of the JCC’s major construction project last year.
There were five events total, three men’s and two women’s, of varying skill levels. Lisa Freedman, who with her partner, Marita Anderson, won the woman beginner’s event, had experience with the charity before.
“Save a child’s heart – I’ve had the pleasure, the blessing, to be able to visit it in person in Israel,” said Freedman. “It’s truly remarkable, the work that they are doing. So, to be able to be out there, to benefit SaCH, is huge.”
Jake Summerfield, who with his dad, Danny, won the men’s intermediate, also expressed his excitement.
“This is my first time being here. It was really fun,” he said. “And I went to Israel with Macey Meyers for Save a Child’s Heart, and it’s a great cause.”
Lawrence Golomb, who won the men’s advanced, almost couldn’t compete after his original partner, Philip Rubin, was injured days before.
“Teddy (Zhang) – my son’s really close friend, – he was able to fill in last minute,” said Golomb. “I called him Thursday night and he said ‘yeah, love to do it.’ Really, what it’s about is for charity, right – we’re helping kids who have heart conditions. So, at the end of the day that’s the main thing. We enjoyed it, and we’ll be back next year.”
Overall, the event raised $80,000 – roughly equivalent to saving five children’s lives.
Winner’s Circle
Women’s Intermediate: Kelly Kuchta and Allison Lizcano
Women’s Beginner: Marita Anderson and Lisa Freedman
Men’s Advanced: Lawrence Golomb and Teddy Zhang
Men’s Intermediate: Danny Summerfield and Jake Summerfield
Men’s Beginner: Alon Avisor and Matheus Bumbel
Basketball 3×3: Ryan Altman, Gabe Alterman, Jake Barras
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