The Fall River Youth Community Fest brought together over two hundred people to enjoy a fun-filled day and celebrate the importance of giving back to the community. The free event, which took place on July 19, 2014 at Britland Park, was the brain child of Jeremy Lavoie, a 2009 graduate of B.M.C. Durfee High School. Currently enrolled in Manhattan College, Mr. Lavoie was looking to give back to the community which helped him become the successful young man that he is today. He wanted to offer middle school and high school students and young adults a positive opportunity in which they could begin to achieve their own hopes and dreams. He recruited his friends to volunteer and be role models and to instill the idea that anything is possible. Mr. Lavoie used basketball to help him stay focused, graduate high school and further his education in college and he wanted to pay that forward. The hub of the day was a five-on-five basketball tournament with middle school, high school and open divisions. In all, over twenty teams participated. The winning team from the open division was Von P. In addition to the tournament, there was face painting, a photo booth and a DJ. To learn more about the project, contact event coordinator Jeremy Lavoie at toprecruitjl@gmail.com.

.(Top row) Event organizer Jeremy Lavoie talks with Jason Springer before the group poses for a group photo. (Top row, right) Mayor William Flanagan joins Jeremy Lavoie to talk about the importance of getting involved and giving back. (Row two) Jeremy Lavoie demonstrates one of the Instagram photos options. (Row three) The group competes in a five–on-five tournament with Ryan Frazier refereeing. (Bottom row, left and center) William Sadler DJs while Jeremy Lavoie addresses the crowd and is greeted by his former Peaceful Coalition advisor, Tom Khoury. (Bottom row, right) Face painting is offered to the younger children.