GCC baseball coach Reist organizes fundraiser for team, less-privileged children

By: HSSN Staff
Sunday, January 6, 2019 | 7:21 PM

Dennis Reist coaches baseball at Greensburg Central Catholic, but he wants to give less-privileged children a chance to experience a college basketball game and to bond with his players in the process.

Reist has organized a “Day with the Pitt Panthers” as GCC will partner with Pitt to take 80 children from the Shadyside and LaRosa Boys and Girls Clubs to the Panthers’ men’s basketball game Feb. 9 against North Carolina State at Petersen Events Center.

Reist’s venture not only will serve as an amiable gesture but also as a fundraiser for the GCC baseball program.

GCC baseball players will help chaperone the children.

“It will really help us grow closer as a team and will allow us to help those in need,” GCC junior catcher Paul Rice said. “The biggest thing I think we’d want to get out of this day is helping out and showing the Boys and Girls Club of Pittsburgh a good time, but we’d also like to come together as a team more. We have room to grow, and this will help.”

The event is largely donation-driven with levels of $100, $250, $500 and $750.

“I have done volunteer work with the Boys and Girls club in the past and have taken up to 200 kids to Pitt football and Penguins games and 50 to Pirates games,” said Reist, a McKeesport resident. “This year, I have taken several kids from McKeesport to several basketball games and thought it would be a good opportunity for my players to be involved.”

Leftover funds will go toward new baseball equipment. Reist believes in the value of volunteer work and the equal-parts impact it can have on those giving and receiving.

“Our players get to help kids who are in a different economic environment, and the kids we are taking get a day out to experience a Pitt basketball game with older kids,” Reist said.

For more information or to make a donation, contact Reist at 412-915-8511 or dreist@attg-it.com.

Bill Beckner is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Bill at bbeckner@tribweb.com or via Twitter @BillBeckner.

Tags: Greensburg C.C.