In her presentation to the hundreds who were gathered at the Statesville Civic Center on Friday night, Chiquita Miller pointed out that the event's name was typically applied to a famous basketball tournament.
"I know for most people March Madness means basketball," said Miller, chief professional officer of the Boys & Girls Club of the Piedmont. "And I must admit that I'm not much of a sports fan, but I know the excitement of a big game couldn't be any greater than what we have here tonight."
March Madness -- Statesville style -- is only in its second year, but it has already become a premier fundraiser and must-be-at gathering for the city's movers and shakers.
The event included food, drink, entertainment, encouraging words and the auctioning off of some pretty serious items -- most of which came from the sports and entertainment worlds.
A band led by Jim Calabreese supplied most of the entertainment.
But the show-stopper was a re-creation of the famous Michael Jackson "Thriller" video, which was done by Boys & Girls Club kindergartners and first-graders.
The sports memorabilia included baseballs signed by Hall of Famers Yogi Berra, Cal Ripken, Stan Musial and Ernie Banks, as well as Pete Rose.
There were football jerseys signed by quarterback greats "Broadway Joe" Namath and Dan Marino. And basketballs from Wake Forrest and UNC Chapel Hill.
Two guitars figured prominently in the bidding wars: one signed by Jimmy Buffet, the other by rock legend Bruce Springsteen.
The Springsteen guitar was actually making its second appearance at March Madness.
Last year, Statesville City Councilman Cecil Stallard ended up purchasing the instrument from the winning bidder and donating it again to the cause.
"It's back by popular demand," said Stallard, who, along with his wife Susan, has made considerable contributions to the Boys & Girls Club.
"We've been supporters from very early on," Stallard said. "It's a great organization."
A.J. Summers and Camryn Edwards would vouch for that.
A.J., 11, is a fifth-grader at Celeste Henkel Elementary School.
He said that aside from the fun he has at the club playing with his friends, he has been taught important life lessons there.
"I've learned how to be a better man when I grow up," he said. "And you need to be a good man if you are going to do good things in the world."
Camryn, 10 and a fifth-grader at Third Creek Elementary School, said, "It's impossible to be bored there because there is always something to do."
The Boys & Girls Club, she said, "is amazing."
But it is also in constant need of funds.
The Statesville club currently hosts 408 children in after-school programs. But another 42 are on the waiting list. It costs about $1,200 to sponsor a child.
And that's where March Madness comes in. Last year, the event raised about $34,000. Organizers are hoping to top $50,000 this year.
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