DANBURY — Seven year-old Danbury resident Heidi Silva posed for a picture with former University of Connecticut basketball star Jennifer Rizzotti, walked a few
steps away, then went back to take another just to be sure it came out right. Smiling constantly behind a pair of glasses with thick white frames, holding a small notebook with Rizzotti’s autograph in it, Silva certainly didn’t mind having to do it twice. From five until a little after six Friday evening, Rizzotti signed autographs with fans, took pictures, and was given a key to the city by Mayor Mark Boughton in an effort to help raise funds for Danbury Youth Services at the 15th annual benefit basketball tournament. Rizzotti’s appearance kicked off the basketball tournament, which featured teams from The News-Times, the Danbury Jaycees, Cannondale Bicycle Corporation, the Danbury Board of Education’s Custodian/Maintenance Local 35/United Electrical 222 Union, the Danbury Public Schools and the Danbury Lawyers. “I’ve been blessed with having a successful career, and to have all these people who still support me,” said Rizzotti. “This is an opportunity for me to give back to them.” Rizzotti, a New Fairfield native and the current head coach of the University of Hartford women’s basketball team, had a monumental impact not only on adoring fans like Silva (who said she had been looking forward to Friday for a few days) but the amount of money raised. According to James
In addition to the initial money raised the tournament also charged $10 per ticket, held a 50/50 raffle, and sold a cookbook commemorating the 40th anniversary of the DYS. Walsh estimated that the total amount raised could exceed 12 or 13 thousand dollars, making it the most profitable fundraiser the organization has ever had.