Law Center-Congress Hoops Game Raises Almost $1 Million

March 1, 2012 – An annual charity basketball game pitting Law Center faculty and staff against members of Congress raised close to $1 million last night for the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless.

The game, which took place at Trinity Washington University, raised more than double last year’s total and marked the 25th anniversary of the annual event, called Home Court.

“This is beyond anything we could have imagined back in 1987 when we started planning this event,” said Patricia Mullahy Fugere (C’81, L’84), WLCH’s executive director. “It’s our neighbors who are homeless who are the winners of Home Court.”

Hoyas Vs. Hill’s Angels

Over the years, the game has raised more than $5 million to help the clinic provide legal services to people facing homelessness.

The Hill’s Angels, who faced the Law Center’s Hoya Lawyas team, included Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.), Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) Rep. Laura Richardson (D-Calif.) and Sen. Robert Casey Jr. (D-Pa.)

This year, the Law Center lost to Congress members by a few points.

Home Court Creator

The event’s co-chairs, Lauren Miyamoto (L’12), Brittany Muetzel (L’12) and Tyler Press (L’12), took advantage of a timeout during the game to present a check for $941,539.76 to WLCH staff.

Jeff Schwaber (L’88), who dreamed up Home Court as a law student, also attended the game.

“It is my sincere hope that 25 years from now, we won’t need a Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless,” he said.

Great Start

The Hoyas, with Dean William M. Treanor starting, led early at 5-4 before the Hill’s Angels’ Brown hit a three-pointer to take the lead 7-5.

The Law Center’s Ronnie Rease scored a three-pointer just before halftime to cut the Hill's Angels' lead to 20-18. The Hoyas stayed close in the second half, with Rease tying it up at 32-32.

Another couple of 3-pointers by Rease, and some great plays by Lawyas teammates Michael Jacobson, Damon Jones and Tom Karr, brought them within two points of the Hill's Angels, 49-47 with 23 seconds left to play.

Passion and Flair

The final score – Hill’s Angels 50, Hoya Lawyas 47 – did not dampen the enthusiasm of Home Court 25.

Student emcee Kylen Grimes (L’12) drummed up school spirit during the game, as did the Lawcappella singing group and Georgetown's mascot, Jack the Bulldog.

“I couldn’t be more proud of the Hoya Lawyas,” said Mitch Bailin, dean of students. “They played with passion and flair to the final buzzer. And with our students’ remarkable fundraising efforts, there definitely were no losers at Home Court 25."