Wood County Board of Development Disabilities (WCBDD) is pleased to announce its 6th Annual Celebrity Basketball Game on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Dolores Black Gymnasium located in the BG Community Center.

Throughout the month of March and the remainder of the year, WCBDD will host a variety of events to increase awareness in our community about individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Our greatest hope is to promote integration for and inclusion of ALL people within their communities.

The Celebrity Basketball game will feature our Special Olympics Wood County Wildcat basketball athletes battling a team of local celebrities. Doors will open at 5 p.m. and events will start 30 minutes later. The night will begin by featuring the blue and silver wildcat basketball teams. There will be two 30-minute games with a running clock.  

This year, we are making it even more celebratory by inviting our guests and celebrities to wear their best “black-tie affair” outfits. Come in your best-dressed formal, or funny formal, attire to celebrate the evening in style! Our celebrities will walk out on a red carpet and even receive small golden awards.

Please bring a non-perishable food item for admission. The advocacy groups People First and Aktion Club will be collecting items to donate to a local food bank and they will also be selling popcorn.

There are several fun activities planned for the game this year:

• A professional DJ and announcer will provide additional entertainment.
• Elmwood pep band and cheerleaders will be there!
• There will be a half-court contest and a chance to win a prize.
• AND much more!

WCBDD is seeking additional local “celebrities” to participate in the Celebrity Basketball Game. This may include local officials and representatives, law enforcement, business owners, news teams, sports stars and more. Anyone interested in participating may sign up on the Wood Lane – Wood County Board of Developmental Disabilities Facebook page, the WCBDD website under the Special Olympics page, or you may contact Joe Bernyk, community engagement specialist at WCBDD, by phone at 419-419-7900 or email, jbernyk@woodcountydd.org.

Those participating in the game will receive a Wildcats vs. Celebrity Basketball shirt and will be introduced before the game begins.

According to Charese Botjer, Communications and Community Engagement Manager, the event is incredibly important to the WCBDD community and individuals served. “Wood County Board of Developmental Disabilities is committed to inclusion 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Although Developmental Disabilities Month is celebrated in March, it is our mission to celebrate inclusion, and educate beyond the month of March. Our athletes, individuals served, and entire community look forward to this event each year because it unites our community as one. Please consider joining us this year, as a player or simply a spectator, to celebrate the beauty of inclusion,” she said.

To register and play as a local celebrity, please click here. We hope to see you there!