Basketball competition to benefit mentally ill

RICHMOND, Ind. (AP) - Mike Youngblood wants to help those who helped him.

The Richmond man has organized a basketball 3-point shooting competition at the Richmond Family YMCA in March designed to benefit Horizon House, which helps those struggling with mental illness.

"It's for the community and the kids. People helped me. I want to give back," said Youngblood, 47.

He also wants to prove a point. Youngblood had a stroke, battled bouts of severe depression and was homeless. He lived at Genesis, the battered and homeless shelter in Richmond, and received help from Dunn Mental Health Center, which is now Centerstone.

"I want to make the point that no matter what you've been through, you can be a success. You can still be a productive citizen," Youngblood told the Palladium-Item.

The event is called "Hoops For Hope" and is slated for March 16. It is open to men and women, boys and girls.

There will be trophies and gift certificates to local sporting goods stores for the winners.

"It should be fun. I want to do another fundraiser for Genesis this summer," Youngblood said.

Bobby Schmidt, outreach counselor at Horizon House, said the event fits well into the center's mission of helping people "get on their feet and be productive members of society."

"We have been very successful in educating visitors about local resources that help meet their basic needs," Schmidt said. "The staff and volunteers have helped many engage in different services in the community that make recovery from life's situations, such as poverty, homelessness and mental illness, possible."

Schmidt said Horizon House has been able to remain in operation through donations from the Centerstone staff and other community agencies, such as Helping Hands.

"But we need more help," he said. "That's why this is an important event."