Hoopfest raises $110K for Scholarship Fund for Inner-City Children

The Scholarship Fund for Inner-City Children’s (SFIC) High School Hoopfest returned for its 20th anniversary at the Roselle Catholic High School gym on Jan. 6. The event featured an exciting day of basketball and raised $110,000 to support partial-tuition assistance scholarships for underprivileged students attending Archdiocese of Newark Catholic schools.

*Roselle Catholic High School and Immaculate Conception High School basketball teams compete on Jan. 6.*

Almost 600 spectators watched three competitive games among teams from five Catholic schools within the Archdiocese of Newark: Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child in Summit, Hudson Catholic Regional High School in Jersey City, Seton Hall Prep in West Orange, Immaculate Conception High School in Montclair, and Roselle Catholic High School in Roselle. Amidst the action, SFIC presented awards to student-athletes on each team with the highest GPAs. Their names are listed below:

Game 1 — Girls Teams

Roselle Catholic High School: Tori Archer

Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child: Kiley Reape

Game 2 — Boys Teams

Hudson Catholic Regional High School: Alex Massung

Seton Hall Prep: Gino Romano

Game 3 — Boys Teams

Roselle Catholic High School: Dante Sangiuliano

Immaculate Conception High School: Myles Blackley

Also during the event, SFIC board members honored SFIC cofounder Kenneth F. Kunzman, who passed away in 2023 at the age of 85. A passionate basketball fan, Kunzman established the Hoopfest to showcase top student-athletes and recognize their academic achievements. His wife, Anne, and son, Ken, accepted an award posthumously honoring Kunzman’s years of dedication to the organization. Ken later helped present academic achievement awards to students.

*Seton Hall Prep and Hudson Catholic Regional High School basketball teams at Hoopfest.*

Daisy Espana, SFIC’s director of special events, said this year’s Hoopfest was successful.

“People really loved the games, and the money we raised means a lot of students will be able to receive the values-based education the Archdiocese’s Catholic schools provide,” Espana said. “I think Mr. Kunzman would be happy to see his creation is still making a difference for the next generation — his legacy lives on.”

SFIC’s High School Hoopfest has become a beloved tradition since launching in 2004. Many future NBA stars like Kyle Anderson and Karl-Anthony Towns have participated over the years, and numerous basketball fans return to watch annually. All proceeds from the event’s ticket sales support SFIC’s partial-tuition scholarships, which benefit children at or below the poverty level regardless of ethnicity, gender, race, or religion. To learn more about SFIC and its scholarship programs, visit SFICnj.org.

Founded in 1983 as the Fund for Educational Advancement, the Scholarship Fund for Inner-City Children (SFIC) is a non-profit organization that provides children in need with the opportunity for a quality, values-based education in a safe environment. It offers partial-tuition assistance for students from economically disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds attending private and parochial schools within Bergen, Essex, Hudson and Union counties. Scholarships are based on need without regard to religion, gender, race, or ethnic background. To date, SFIC has provided $53.5 million in partial-tuition assistance. Applicant families must be ready to provide proof of income and intend to attend one of the schools within the four counties it serves.