Waterville’s finest battle for community programs

Waterville youth cheerleaders and the Unified Champions Club with the Waterville Police Department and Waterville Fire Department. (photo by Galen Neal, Central Maine Photography)

by Mark Huard

On December 8, Watervilles bravest and finest laced up their sneakers for the Battle of the Badges basketball game. This thrilling showdown between the Waterville Police and Fire departments brought lots of excitement to the court but also helped raise vital funds for two transformative community programs: the Unified Champion Club and the Pay-What-You-Can Program at the AYCC.

The Unified Champion Club promotes social inclusion through sports, fostering a supportive environment where individuals of all abilities can thrive, while the Pay-What-You-Can Program ensures youth athletics remain accessible to all families, regardless of financial constraints.

** 50/50 winner took home $132
** Raised over $3,000 on Sunday
** Special Olympics of ME granted $10K

A huge thank you to everyone who came out to support this year’s Battle of the Badges! From the intense competition to the incredible community spirit, it was a day to remember.

Our local heroes – Waterville Police Department vs. Firefighters – brought their A-game, and the crowd energy was unmatched. Congratulations to Waterville Fire – Rescue for taking home the bragging rights this year!

But the real winners? Our community – our Unified Champion Club, and youth athletes! We’re still compiling data, from the event, but congrats to all the mini-game winners, too.

For more information or to donate, visit https://www.clubaycc.org/battle-of-the-badges/ or contact the AYCC at 207-873-0684.

Sponsors were Central Maine Motors Auto Group, and the Maine Masonic Charitable Foundation.