FALCONER – Members of the Falconer community came together to participate in the second annual Exceptional Stars Athletics Baseball Game at Lions Field Sunday afternoon.
Rich Bianco, a Falconer Central School teacher and event organizer, tells WNYNewsNow that the event was very successful. He says the organization brought in 57 donated items and raised $3,600 for the Billy Eskeli Scholarship Fund. Eskeli, an FCS graduate, was tragically killed in 2019 in an accident involving a drunk driver in Ohio.
“ESA is proud to have been able to support the Eskeli family and the scholarship in Billy’s memory,” Bianco said. “It’s truly a testament to how much our community loves the Eskeli family and how much they loved Billy.”
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has presented numerous challenges to society as a whole. Bianco, however, says the game was necessary to boost the emotions of the community as a whole.
“ESA is committed to giving exceptional children the thrill of sports. The last several months have been hard for the kids. They’ve missed out on school, friends, and sports,” Bianco said. “We needed to have the event. The kids needed it. Even though their faces were covered with masks, I know they were smiling from ear to ear during the game.”
“They had a blast! Our community did a wonderful job maintaining social distance and wearing masks so that we could all enjoy the game in a safe manner. We are very appreciative to Mayor Jaroszynski, the Town of Ellicott Police Department, and the Village of Falconer for ensuring that the game could go on, that everyone would be safe, and be able to enjoy a day at the ball field.”
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