Third Annual MLK Law Enforcement Basketball Tournament

Martin Luther King, Jr. was very involved with the Civil Rights Movement here in Durham, delivering his famous Fill Up The Jails speech at White Rock Baptist Church on Fayetteville Street. To celebrate Dr. King, there will be an event to honor both law enforcement officers and raise college scholarship funds for underprivileged youth.

For the third consecutive year, Battle of the Badges will host its annual Law Enforcement Basketball Tournament in North Carolina. This year’s games will be January 11-12, 2013, at the Emily Krzyzewski Center in Durham, N.C.

Battle of the Badges was created in 2000 by Wake County Detention Officer Jerome Hall to raise scholarship money for college-bound youth in underprivileged areas nationwide, and to honor law enforcement officers who have died. The two-day “battle” also serves as an opportunity for officers from all aspects of law enforcement, and their supporters, to gather for friendly competition and networking fellowship.

This year’s Battle of the Badges honors Durham Police officer Elbert Mitchell III, who died in a motorcycle accident in May 2011 in Myrtle Beach, SC. The inaugural Battle of the Badges, a decade ago was held in Baltimore, Md., in honor of Maryland State Trooper Corporal Edward M. Toatley, killed in the line of duty. For the last two years, the event was held in Raleigh.

The teams scheduled to compete in this year’s “battle” are from New York, Durham, Mecklenburg County (NC), Atlanta, Prince George’s County (MD) and Connecticut. Since it began, Battle of the Badge has raised close to $10,000 in scholarship money for students at a Maryland high school.

“This event is about more than just playing basketball to me,” said Hall, the event founder and organizer. “It also provides scholarships for worthy students to continue their education, and brings professional men and women together to play a sport they love.”

The Emily Krzyzewski Center, named in honor of the mother of Duke University basketball coach, Mike Krzyzewski, opened in 2006. The Center serves academically-focused, low-income students with out-of-school programs designed to help them achieve in school, attend college, and break cycles of family poverty.

“We are very excited about our partnership with the Emily K Center,” Hall said. “We invite the community out to support our family-oriented event that impacts all of us, far and wide.”

Durham is a city where basketball is well-loved, and as a place where the community takes an active role.  Learn more about Durham here.

Basketball...with Benefits

Duke Men’s Basketball and the Emily Krzyzewski Center in Durham will team up once again and allow basketball fans to get a rare glimpse inside Duke's four-time national championship program with proceeds benefiting the Emily K Center. It's a hoops lover's dream come true.

Ticket holders will have floor side seats in Cameron Indoor Stadium as Coach K leads the 2011-2012 Blue Devils in a preseason practice, while former team captain and 2001 national champion Nate James offers insights as the team goes through its paces. 

The practice is followed by a catered dinner in Scharf Hall with Coach K and the men’s basketball coaching staff.  To cap off the evening the coaches will answer questions and share basketball stories. 

Event proceeds benefit the Emily K Center, a non-profit organization in Durham serving academically-focused, low-income students in out-of-school programming designed to help them achieve in school, gain entry to college, and break the cycle of poverty in their families.  

The event takes place on Tuesday, November 8, at 5 p.m.  Tickets and additional information can be found here.

The Emily K Center Celebrates Five Years

Five years is a great start for The Emily Krzyzewski Center, one of the many non-profits exemplifying the caring and community-spirited values of Durham. Established in 2006 and celebrating five years in Durham, The Emily Krzyzewski Center was named in honor of Coach Mike Krzyzewski’s mother and its K to College Model serves academically-focused, low-income students in out-of-school programming designed to help them achieve in school, gain entry to college, and break the cycle of poverty in their families.

Duke University President Richard Brodhead summed up five years of service with these words to the students, “I know that your commitment makes your families proud, and we are proud of you too. On behalf of Duke University and the Durham Community, I wish you many more years of reaching and working for your goals in life. We look forward to having you join us as future leaders in Durham.”

In addition to working with more than 100 students from first to eleventh grade on a near-daily basis, the Center serves nearly 1,000 students and community members monthly through the use of the Center’s multi-purpose rooms, gymnasium, and stage.

Watch the Blue Devils, Benefit the Emily K Center

On Wednesday, November 10, basketball fans have a rare opportunity to get a glimpse inside the Duke Men’s national championship program as a part of a special evening to benefit the Emily K Center.

Guests at Inside Duke Basketball will observe team practice in Cameron Indoor Stadium in the company of former players Jay Bilas (now ESPN analyst) and Chris Carrawell; tour the new Duke Basketball Museum and Athletics Hall of Fame; dine in Scharf Hall along with Coach Mike Krzyzewski; and participate in a question and answer session with the basketball experts.

Tickets are available for a donation of $250 per ticket at the Emily K Center by calling (919) 680-0308, ext.1006 or buying online here.