Editor’s note: A photo gallery from the event appears at the end of this story. Photos by Tony Wooten.
The final score doesn’t tell the full story of the inaugural United Way Classic, the basketball game that raised nearly $25,000 for Cumberland County charities.
There were fan contests, music from DJ Ricoveli, a performance by the 82nd Airborne Chorus, free books for children, mascots from teams across the county, and a crowd of 1,200 to 1,500 people at the Crown Coliseum on Friday. And if you haven’t watched an elected official try to quickly pull on a firefighter’s turnout suit at half court and then shoot a successful basket, you missed a spectacle. (Mayor Pro Tem Derrick Thompson was up to the challenge, though.)
For the record, Team Fort Bragg defeated the roster of first responders on Team Fayetteville 90-63.
But the evening was about more than a basketball game, according to Scott Embry, executive director of United Way of Cumberland County, which organized the event.
“I believe the overall impression was that the United Way Classic was an incredible event that brought our community together to celebrate and cheer on our local heroes,” Embry told CityView in an email.
“It’s amazing what we can accomplish when we come together as a community. Events like this remind us of the power of partnership and the impact we can have when we work toward a common goal,” he added.
The event included Col. Chad Mixon, garrison commander at Fort Bragg, throwing up the ball to tip off the game, and the Dolly Parton Imagination Library and the Cumberland County Literacy Council distributing more than 150 books to children.
To help plan the event for 2027, United Way is asking attendees to complete a brief online survey about their experience.
