This Saturday, November 25, 2023 will be the 5th Kate Abel ’09 Memorial Basketball Tournament. All are welcome to attend, sponsor, or donate in memory of Kaitlin N. Abel.
The Abel family and Villa Joseph Marie High School in Northampton Township thank each and every person who has supported them and there is a definite comfort in coming together in remembering Kate with such an amazing, meaningful remembrance event.
All proceeds benefit a scholarship for Villa Joseph Marie High School in Kate’s name. Kate was a 2009 graduate.
Kaitlin Nicole Abel’s memory is very much alive at Villa and she is STILL impacting so many others.
Thus far, $20,000 in scholarships has been awarded.
Criteria for the scholarship includes: Kindness towards others, Strong academic focus, Involvement in athletics or extracurricular activities, Community service and commitment to charitable organizations, and Strong work ethic.
The indelible mark Kate left on this world will never be forgotten.
The Abels’ original plan was to generously make a donation in Kate’s name as they wanted to give back to Villa for doing so much for their cherished daughters.
“Kate came out so prepared and she laid the groundwork for the others, Timothy Shane, HGP ’11, Julianna Catherine, VJM ’14, and Marissa Kathleen, VJM ’17. Villa supported us and offered the much needed emotional support for Kate’s sisters.”
Twenty-three-year-old Kaitlin was less than five minutes from her home when her bright light was extinguished that night by a drunk driver. He was operating his vehicle, driving while intoxicated with nearly three times the legal limit of .08, and he drove directly into wrong-way traffic on Route 13 in Falls Township, striking two vehicles.
A life cut way too short….. The beloved Lower Makefield young woman was tragically killed.
Kate was an accomplished athlete in several sports, but basketball had been her favorite. Her parents, along with the assistance of the former VJM Athletic Director who suggested the event, designed this most successful Kate Abel Memorial Tournament to perpetuate Kate’s memory and forever maximize her impact. VJM Athletic director, Amy E. Barr capably carries on this legacy event as Villa Joseph Marie will once again hold the Kate Abel Memorial Event on Saturday, November 25, 2023 from 10:00AM- approximately 5:00PM.
Regulation length games [four 7-minute quarters] will continue throughout the day. Eight Varsity teams of 7th/8th graders are participating in 4 games in this showcase tournament and it culminates as numerous Villa Alumnae gather for the Alumnae basketball game where all Alumnae playing in the game receive an event t-shirt.
When/if time permits, between-game contests of Free Throw, Three Point Shooting, etc. will be coordinated.
All proceeds benefit a scholarship for Villa Joseph Marie High School in Kate’s name.
She had an insatiable passion for helping others and this passion led her to pursue a career in physical therapy. She invested countless hours volunteering, tirelessly working toward her dream in Magee Rehabilitation Hospital, part of Jefferson Health, and at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia [CHOP] where her mother is an RN in the NICU.
She possessed and magnanimously shared her most positive outlook on life.
We are confident that Kaitlin’s memory, and her profound examples of selflessness which she portrayed, will be preserved and awarded through this scholarship. Contact Matt Grunwell, Director of Advancement, at mgrunwell@vjmhs.org with any questions about the event.
Spectator admission for the tournament is $5.00.
Snacks, t-shirts, 50/50 raffles, and raffle baskets will be available throughout the tournament and the raffle winners’names will be pulled at the conclusion of the event.
The indelible mark Kate has left on this world will never be forgotten.
Those who knew her will tell you that she made them better people!
There are no goodbyes. She will always be in their hearts.
Visit https://www.vjmhs.org/events/abelbasketball for more information and to donate directly to the scholarship.
December is National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month.
Stop Drinking. Start Thinking. Save A Life.
