Bloom Township Elite Alums Return To "Give Back" Bloom Alumni Athletic Association coordinates sports clinic

The Bloom Athletic Alumni Association (BAAA/Trojan Nation) got its beginning as a Bloom basketball booster club to support Bloom Township High School (BTHS) basketball. Throughout the year as they mentored and supported the basketball program, they soon realized the call from other sports to be recognized became deafening. Working in conjunction with the Bloom Alumni Association (BAA), The Bloom Alumni Athletic Association was formed to reorganize to address its new mission of including all sports and extra-curriculum clubs. . In mid-2015, the BAAA changed its internal structure to reflect a multi-sport association made up of representatives (on its board of commissioners and directors) from all the major sports of BTHS.

Today, The BAAA is an association design to provide fundraising support, alumni relations activities, and community relations events; all designated to support BTHS athletics and efforts to increase academic achievement .

On August 15th, 2015, BAAA will launch their back to school event themed “Giving Back” , in which over 75 alums and friends are coming together to inspire and give back to the current and future student-athletes of BTHS. During that day, area students will be able to attend a sports clinic with hands-on training, educational class sessions and interaction by some of our elite Bloom graduates from sports, business and the entertainment worlds; alums such as Fletcher Smith’85, Hall of Fame top sports agent in the country, Jan Johnson’68, Bloom’s Olympic medalist, Japheth Cato’10, All-American Heptathlete, and Joe Chapman’02, International Professional Basketball player out of Japan, are just a few giving back.

The event will include an evening ending in a Pro/Am International Basketball Game , that will showcase a spectacular line-up of NBA stars, such as Steve Novak (Oklahoma Thunder) , Jerel McNeal (Phoenix Suns), and Joe Chapman, MVP International basketball star, along with his 6 International pros from all over the world, and a host of All-State Bloom/Bloom Trail basketball greats. It will start with autographs and slam dunk/3 point contests coordinated by former Chicago Bulls Craig Hodges. The International Pam/Am game will be announced by radio host of The 670 Score, Bloom grad Terry Boers’68. At half-time, Jan Johnson, 1972 Munich Olympic medalist will present his Olympic medal and other Munich memorabilia to Bloom School Board President, Donald Aprati.

Please join us in the fun. Tickets are available in advance online or call the Bloom Archives (708) 755-1122 ext. 2301 Leave a message with name and contact information and we will get right back to you. Visit us on the web for more information: www.bloomtrojansnation.com or join us on Facebook: Bloom Trojan Nation. You are not going to want to miss this once in a lifetime opportunity.