The best way to teach tolerance is not in the classroom; it’s on the basketball court. That’s the opinion of Steve Duman, the creator of the HOT SHOT SHOOT-A-THON for YACHAD, an annual tournament that has nearly 60 athletes ages 8-11 playing ball to raise funds for the developmentally disabled.

Nearly 150 parents, relatives and sports fans are expected to attend the Third Annual Yachad Basketball Shoot-a-thon Celebration, Sunday, April 5, 5:30-7 p.m., at P.S. 199, 270 West 70^th Street in Manhattan. The event -- which will include a presentation by a developmentally disabled individual, a brief talk by Dr. Jeff Lichtman, Director of Yachad and a pizza party -- will mark the conclusion of a three-month-long shooting fund raiser for Yachad, the Orthodox Union’s (OU) program for the developmentally disabled. The Shoot-a-thon is sponsored by Hot Shots Basketball, an after-school athletic program for kids in grades K-5.

"I’m trying to teach the kids it’s not just me, me, me. These kids live sheltered lives, mostly associating with kids who are the similar as themselves. This program exposes them to the developmentally disabled and gives them a chance to see that there are all kinds of people in the world. Ultimately, it helps foster a greater understanding of challenged individuals," said Duman, the founder of Hot Shots Basketball.

Hot Shot kids, who come from schools throughout Manhattan, canvassed sponsors who pledged money based on the kids’ performance in the shoot out. Hot Shots raised a few thousand dollars last year.

"Kids have many questions surrounding the developmentally disabled. Many of them wonder if developmental disabilities are contagious. This program provides an opportunity for us to have developmentally disabled peers interact with mainstream children and thereby shatter the prevailing stereotypes," said Dr. Lichtman, Director of Yachad.

With 30 chapters throughout the United States and Canada, Yachad is a leading resource center providing information and referral services for those with special needs in the Jewish community. The only organization of its kind, Yachad provides a unique range of social, recreational and religious interactive activities to bridge the chasm between the disabled and non-disabled populations.

For more information, please call Yachad at (212) 613-8229.

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