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Bethlehem residents Joe and Aurora Brunovsky are celebrating their 5th<\/sup>\u00a0year raising money for those in need with a charitable softball game on August 18th<\/sup>\u00a0in Whitehall PA.\u00a0\u00a0The Brunovsky\u2019s started the Give Back LV Softball Tournament (GBLVST) in 2013 and to date have raised over $25,000 for various non-profits all around the valley.\u00a0\u00a0The Give Back LV Softball tournament was started with the mission of providing a fun opportunity to do some good and help \u201cGive Back\u201d right here in the Lehigh Valley.\u00a0\u00a0Every year Joe and Aurora pick a different non-profit here in the area to support and fundraise on their behalf.\u00a0\u00a0Since its inception, the GBLSVT has raised over $25,000 for The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, The Cancer Support Community, The Nam Knights of the Lehigh Valley, and Logan\u2019s Heroes Animal Rescue. The event brings in hundreds of players, volunteers and many local sponsors from all around the area.<\/p>\n This year\u2019s tournament is helping raise money for a very relevant issue that has been plaguing the Lehigh Valley for the past few years, and that is the Heroin and Opioid Epidemic.\u00a0\u00a0On January 10, 2018 Governor Tom Wolfe declared the heroin and opioid epidemic a state wide disaster emergency.\u00a0\u00a0Joe and Aurora Brunovsky have heard the call and collaborated with the Center for Humanistic Change (CHC) located in Allentown to do something about it.\u00a0\u00a0The CHC provides heroin and opioid education and prevention training to various members of our community with the hope to stop the issue that is affecting our youth. From Jan. 1 through Sept. 30, 2017, at least 243 people died because of drug use in Lehigh and Northampton counties, according to coroner reports. The CHC attempts to reduce these numbers by stopping addiction before it even starts.<\/p>\n The Give Back LV Softball Tournament will be held on August 18th<\/sup>, starting at 9AM<\/span> at Schadt Avenue Park in Whitehall PA.\u00a0\u00a0The event will have various slow pitch softball games, silent auctions and a 50\/50 raffle.\u00a0\u00a0Please come out and help support this amazing cause and make a change to our future.<\/p>\n The newly elected\u00a0Mayor of Whitehall,<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>Michael Harakal Jr<\/strong>\u00a0will also be in attendance to help kick off the event and speak about how heroin and opioids are effecting our local area. Mayor Harakal feels that Joe and Aurora Brunovsky are doing amazing work and wishes to provide his support to help those in need right here in the Lehigh Valley.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Give Back LV Softball Tournament was formed with the number one purpose of doing something good.\u00a0\u00a0By changing the charity every year we have no agenda for a specific cause, other than doing what\u2019s right.\u201d \u2013 Joe Brunovsky<\/p>\n \u201cI believe that if you have everything you need in life, it is everyone\u2019s duty to Give Back to those in need.\u00a0\u00a0This is our way of Giving Back and helping those right here in our backyard.\u00a0\u00a0If we can make a difference in one person\u2019s life by having this event each year, then I feel we have done our duty.\u201d \u2013 Aurora Brunovsky<\/p>\n For more information visit GiveBackSoftball.com or come to the event on August 18th<\/sup>\u00a0at Schadt Avenue Park located at 1975 Schadt Ave, Whitehall, PA 18052.\u00a0\u00a0For more information on the CHC visit\u00a0www.thechc.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Information provided by: <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Bethlehem residents Joe and Aurora Brunovsky are celebrating their 5th\u00a0year raising money for those in need with a charitable softball game on August 18th\u00a0in Whitehall PA.\u00a0\u00a0The Brunovsky\u2019s started the … Continue reading Local group responds to the Valley\u2019s growing Heroin and Opioid Epidemic<\/span>
\nJoe and Aurora Brunovsky<\/p>\n