Child Advocacy Basketball Tournament

EAC Network’s 2nd Annual Child Advocacy Basketball Tournament is on Saturday, April 8th, 2023, 12:30 p.m., at the Island Garden Basketball, 45 Cherry Valley Avenue, West Hempstead, NY 11552. Admission will be $10 per person. Tickets can be purchased in advance at https://eac-network.org/event/child-advocacy-center-basketball-tournament/.

Child abuse and sexual trafficking happen on Long Island and in Suffolk County. This tournament is organized to help raise awareness and critical support for victims and their non offending families. All funds raised at this event will benefit EAC Network’s Suffolk Child Advocacy Center (CAC). The CAC works together with a Multidisciplinary Team composed of representatives from the District Attorney’s office, the County Attorney’s Office, the Police Department, the Department of Social Services Child Protective Services, Mental Health representatives, medical staff, and CAC personnel to protect victims and prosecute offenders.

At this tournament, Nassau County Police Department will face off against the Suffolk County Police Department, the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office will face the New York State Police Department.

Neela Mukherjee Lockel, MSW, MPA, President and Chief Executive Officer of EAC Network said: “I thank our partners in law enforcement. EAC’s Child Advocacy Center provides critical services to minors who are victims of sexual and physical abuse. Protecting Suffolk County’s children is a core mission of the EAC Network, and we can’t do this work without the Suffolk County Police Department Special Victim’s Unit & the New York State Police Sexual Assault Victims Unit. Additionally, I thank all of our sponsors and our partners in law enforcement for their work and dedication in protecting our children and their families.”

Ms. Mukherjee Lockel goes on to say, “The money we raise for this tournament will go to protecting Suffolk’s children. We recognize and thank the Suffolk Sheriff and Nassau County Police Department for their partnership in making Suffolk a safer community for our children.”

Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison will be in attendance to throw up the official tip-off to start the event.

Andrea Ramos-Topper, EAC Network’s Division Director said: “It’s inspiring to see the number of people from the various law enforcement agencies from all over Long Island who work so hard every day to protect our children come together for such a great cause. There is no doubt knowing that working together, sharing ideas, and supporting one another, we will protect children and create a brighter future for the children and families who come into our Child Advocacy Centers.”

The Child Advocacy Basketball Tournament is sponsored by Clinicians Supplement Consultants, Fusco, Brandenstein, & Rada, P.C., Pasternack Tilker Ziegler Walsh Stanton and Romano LLP Attorneys at Law, Brothers Dumpsters and Island Garden Basketball.

EAC Network’s Nationally Accredited Suffolk County Child Advocacy Center’s mission is to reduce the revictimization of child sexual and physical abuse or neglect, and promote a coordinated trauma informed, victim-centered investigation. The EAC Network’s Child Advocacy Center coordinates the investigation, treatment, and prosecution of child abuse cases by utilizing multidisciplinary teams of professionals involved in child protective and victim advocacy services, law enforcement and prosecution, and physical and mental health.

EAC Network is a non-profit, diverse human services agency that responds to the needs of over 65,000 individuals with over 100 critically necessary programs and direct support services throughout Long Island and New York City. Our objective is to reach individuals within our community through innovative programs that improve quality of life.

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Media Contacts

Robert Stricoff, MSA, Chief Development Officer / Robert.Stricoff@eac-network.org or 631. 433.1662

Cassandre Thrasybule, Public Relations and Marketing Coordinator/ Cassandre.Thrasybule@eac-network.org or 954.707.9709