SOUTHAMPTON — Madeline “Maddie” Schmidt lost her 10-month battle against brain cancer more than three years ago, but her legacy lives on and can be supported through the fourth annual Magic for Maddie 3v3 basketball fundraiser later this month.
Joe Westcott, the director for the event said besides the Magic for Maddie annual 5k, this event is the biggest fundraiser for the charity, which has raised approximately $1.3 million for research of diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer Maddie was diagnosed with.
Magic for Maddie was formed in 2022 to raise funds for DIPG research and to help fund Maddie Schmidt’s clinical DIPG trial at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Maddie died on New Year’s Eve later that year.
“The way it ultimately developed was when Maddie passed away it really had such a huge impact on many people,” Westcott said about the tournament. “People started looking around for something that really wasn’t a flash in the pan, but was something to honor Maddie’s legacy.”
A total of 159 basketball teams ranging from first graders to adults will compete on Saturday, March 28 and Sunday, March 29, at Norris School in Southampton. Tip off will start at 11 a.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. on Sunday, with double-elimination brackets, prizes for winners and “Spirit of Maddie” team awards. Registration typically opens for the tournament towards the end of January.
“Although cancer is what took Maddie’s life, it is not her legacy,” Maddie’s mother Nora Schmidt said in a statement.
Westcott said the tournament, which was originally the idea of Southampton resident Michelle “Mikki” Carmichael, helps fund the Maddie Schmidt Memorial scholarship which awards a Hampshire Regional High School graduating senior who embodies Maddie’s character money to support their future. Not only that, it also helps support local families in need and the Magic for Maddie charity.
“Our approach has really transitioned to mission over money,” Westcott said about the tournament. “We want to continue to support Maddie’s legacy and continue supporting the local community.”
Westcott said the tournament has turned from solely focusing on fundraising to becoming an event to build community. Maddie’s two brothers are sports lovers and Westcott said this offers them a way to get honor their sister and bring their friends together through basketball.
While teams can no longer register for the tournament, an online auction is being held leading up to the event to raise funds for Magic for Maddie, starting on Friday, March 20 and closing on the 29th.
Ninety percent of children diagnosed with DIPG die within two years of diagnosis with a median survival time of 11 months. The overall survival rate is less than 1%, according to Magic for Maddie. Nora Schmidt said that while Maddie’s death was tragic, she helped establish Magic for Maddie to help children that are going through the same battle that Maddie went through.
“In eight short years, Maddie loved deeply, shined brightly and inspired a community,” Nora Schmidt said in a statement. “If people leave our events with a little bit of Maddie’s magic – then we’re doing exactly what she would want.”
Concessions will be available throughout the entire tournament including La Veracruzana, Log Rolling and Riff’s. In addition, Nini’s, Starbucks, Dam Café, Elm Butcher Block, Tandem and Coca-Cola will be donating food and drink to be sold. Westcott said proceeds from the concessions will support a child in Wilbraham who is battling a life-changing illness.
For more information about the 3v3 basketball tournament or to learn more about Maddie Schmidt, visit www.magicformaddie.com.
Council eyes charter review
EASTHAMPTON — The City Council has dismissed a measure that would give it the power to increase the school budget, instead floating out the potential for a complete charter review.
The council voted unanimously remove the measure from its agenda indefinitely at its Feb. 18 meeting. The measure sparked debate at an October City Council meeting, when School Committee members asked Precinct 3 Councilor Thomas Peake to put the item on the agenda.
Although in an interview with the Gazette, School Committee Chair Laura Scott said this is no longer an interest for the School Committee.
“This ended up being a little bit more divisive than I ultimately thought it was going to be,” Peake said at the council’s Feb. 18 meeting.
Peake said the item was introduced in 2022 during a particularly difficult budget season but it didn’t move forward then because it became clear that former Mayor Nicole LaChapelle would dismiss the proposal if it made it to the mayor’s desk.
The measure would have accepted Chapter 329 of the Massachusetts General Law (MGL) Acts of 1987 and would have allowed the council to increase funding for schools if six of its nine members agree, but only after the School Committee asked for more money through a five out of seven member vote.
Peake previously told the Gazette that the measure was a way that would provide more checks and balances on the mayor’s power when budgeting.
Instead Peake said after meeting with Scott and Mayor Salem Derby, they weighed the possibility for a full charter review noting that the City Charter was created 30 years ago. He said this can be done through a charter review committee proposing amendments to the state Legislature, which the city has done multiple times before, or a complete charter commission.
Peake said he would be more interested in a charter commission, but Easthampton resident Daniel Gilbert, said it is a lengthy process.
Gilbert said the charter commission process starts with a petition signed by 2,000 Easthampton voters to get the question on the ballot of the city’s next election. Residents would then vote on the ballot question to establish a commission and elect nine commission members, setting off a 18-month process charter review process.
Meet the mayor series
EASTHAMPTON — Mayor Salem Derby announced a “Monthly Meeting with the Mayor” series, welcoming residents to sign-up for a block of time to speak personally with Derby about any topic.
The meeting will be held on the first Thursday of each month and residents can sign up for a 20-minute one-on-one conversation in person or virtually with Derby. The first will be held on March 5.
Residents have to sign-up for a time slot ahead of the meeting either through a Google form, or by calling the Mayor’s Office at (413) 529-1400, Ext. 143.
“While I have always, and continue to maintain that my office will have an open-door policy, I do understand the frustration of constituents who are unable to meet with me due to potential scheduling issues of a walk-in,” Derby said in a statement. “I look forward to meeting with you on March 5 and in the months to come.”
Community Preservation Act meetings in Easthampton and Southampton
Easthampton and Southampton are calling on residents to attend their annual Community Preservation Act (CPA) meetings, where future community projects will be discussed and considered.
Easthampton’s meeting will be held on March 19 at 6:30 p.m. at the Municipal Building. The city is asking attendants to complete a survey by March 12, asking what projects they are interested in with CPA funds.
Southampton’s will be held on March 11 at 6 p.m. at Southampton Town Hall.