East Hampton, NY—
The Kendall Madison Foundation
adopted the Kendall Madison
Playaz, a basketball team made
up of aspiring student-athletes
in grades 6 through 12, from
various schools across Suffolk
County. The playaz hail from
locales from East Hampton to
Amityville. The Playaz is a
certified Amateur Athletic Union
(AAU) national travel program
and a 501(c)(3) registered
non-profit organization.
The Kendall Madison Foundation
was established by Sharon Bacon
in memory of her son, Kendall
Madison, who was an outstanding
athlete and model student from
East Hampton. Kendall, who was
killed in January of 1995 while
doing a promotion at a
nightclub, was revered by his
community, schoolmates, and
college associates.
The Kendall Madison Foundation
co-signed Kendall Madison Playaz
after realizing the program’s
group of
volunteer staff and coaches
had the same goals in mind for
its players: to foster
self-enhancement skills through
recreational programs and
implement innovative
fund-raising methods as a means
to provide academic scholarships
to graduating seniors.
Additionally, the foundation
helps to fund travel for
national
competitions, and purchase
athletic uniforms, fitness and
safety equipment for organized
sporting activities, or as
needed by high school athletes,
all necessary support for the
team to thrive.
Headed by Director Nick Thomas,
a Bridgehampton alumnus and head
junior varsity coach and
assistant varsity coach of the
Center Moriches Red Devils—the
two-time Suffolk County Class B
County champions—-the Kendall
Madison Playaz is designed to
give striving student-athletes
an outlet to cultivate their
talents by competing at the
highest level during the spring
and summer seasons while gaining
recruiting exposure. However,
the players are strongly
encouraged to excel to their
highest potential off the
basketball court as well. Each
participant is required to
maintain a grade point average
of 2.5 or higher and
tutoring
and SAT preperation are provided
to ensure that standard is met.
In addition to being a conduit
for each participant to blossom
as both
a scholar
and
an
athlete, the Kendall Madison
Playaz program allows
athletes
to gain exposure to college
scouts and coaches from around
the country through showcase
tournaments and camps in various
gyms throughout the U.S.
This year’s
tournament schedule includes
trips to Springfield,
Massachusetts;
Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania; Washington D.C.;
Hampton, Virginia; and
Providence, Rhode Island, among
several others.
The Kendall Madison Playaz
operates by means of
fundraising, sponsorships and
donations in any and all
capacities.
Currently
the Playaz trying to raise funds
to participate in the
Orlando Super Showcase, from
July 23 through July 27, at the
Disney Wide World of Sports
Complex in Orlando, Florida. All
donations, payable to The
Kendall Madison Foundation, 67A
Main Street, Suite 2, East
Hampton, N.Y. 11937, are tax
deductable and greatly
appreciated.