Sheftel Memorial Fund Softball Tournament featured David Akers and Steve
Carlton
Sheftel Softball Tournament featured Eagles kicker David Akers and Phillies pitcher Steve
Carlton
The weather held up to make for a successful 13th annual Justin Sheftel Memorial Fund Softball Tournament
on June 17 at Lehigh County Athletic Fields in Allentown .
Photos of the event are available here:
- https://stlukes.smugmug.com/Sports-Medicine/Sheftel-Softball-Tournament/2017-Sheftel-Tournament/
- https://stlukes.smugmug.com/Sports-Medicine/2017-Sheftel-Reception/
Former Philadelphia Eagles kicker David
Akers participated a fitness clinics as part of the tournament’s
outreach. St. Luke’s Sports Medicine, the
presenting sponsor for the third year in a row, helped bring in former Philadelphia Phillies pitcher and Baseball Hall of
Famer Steve Carlton for last year’s tournament. Carlton was back again
for this year’s tournament as well. The big names help drive home an important message.
The tournament raises funds in memory of Linda and Elliot Sheftel's son Justin, a pedestrian who
was struck and killed by a fellow teenager driving under the influence during the post-high
school graduation ritual known as “Senior Week” in the resort town of Ocean City, Maryland on
June 15, 2005.
Justin, just 18 at the time, lost his life that evening, but his family and the Lehigh Valley
community have gained a powerful positive legacy through the tournament’s message. His family
and friends have raised awareness of the dangers and impact that poor decisions such as drinking
and driving can make in literally the blink of an eye.
The softball tournament has donated more than $375,000 since 2006 that helps provide
sports-related programs and scholarships for two graduating seniors from Parkland High School.
In addition to the softball tournament, this year’s festivities included:
- St. Luke’s Fitness & Sports Performance Clinics featuring David Akers’ High School and
Middle School clinics.
- Annual Red Robin Mocktail Competition with celebrity judges. New this year: Vote for your
favorite with a ticket. Winning ticket will receive a fabulous prize package.
- Whole Foods is sponsoring a giant Jenga game and Beanbag toss.
- Lehigh Valley Auto and 99.9 The Hawk will provide a Honda Civic loaded with ping pong balls
in the trunk. Guess the correct number of balls and win an incredible prize pack that
includes an autographed David Akers Jersey, gift cards and more.
- Food, family-friendly activities and more.
“David Akers is unbelievable,” Linda Sheftel exclaimed. “I am so impressed with him and thankful
that he’s involved with our tournament. He’s bringing a really good message.”
Akers was on board as soon as he heard about the tournament. “It was such a horrific tragedy with
Justin,” Akers said “This tournament serves so many different organizations, and a scholarship
program as well. By playing softball and getting the community together every year, this tragedy
has transformed into triumph, and it’s a cool thing to see the community come together to
understand the consequences of poor decision-making.”
Good decision-making skills are as critical to Akers’ message as they are to Justin Sheftel’s
legacy.
“We are not self-made at all,” Akers said. “We need someone who teaches us, encourages
accountability and gives us an opportunity in life. There’s always that group of people who help
you understand the ability to get up and keep fighting, that never quit attitude to persevere in
life through a thing called teamwork.”
Media Contact
Sam Kennedy, Corporate Communications Director, 484-526-4134,
samuel.kennedy@sluhn.org
About St. Luke’s
Founded in 1872, St. Luke’s University Health Network (SLUHN) is a
non-profit, regional, fully integrated and nationally recognized network providing services at
seven hospitals and more than 270 outpatient sites. The network’s service area includes Lehigh,
Northampton, Carbon, Schuylkill, Bucks, Montgomery, Berks and Monroe counties in Pennsylvania
and in Warren County in New Jersey. Dedicated to advancing health education, St. Luke’s operates
the nation’s oldest School of Nursing and 22 graduate medical educational programs and is
considered a major teaching hospital, the only one in the region. In partnership with Temple
University, St. Luke’s created the region’s first Medical School. Repeatedly, including 2017,
St. Luke’s has earned Truven’s 100 Top Major Teaching Hospital designation as well as 50 Top
Cardiovascular program in addition to other honors for clinical excellence. St. Luke’s is a
multi-year recipient of the Most Wired award recognizing the breadth of St. Luke’s information
technology applications such as electronic medical records, telehealth, online scheduling and
pricing information. St. Luke’s is also recognized as one of the state’s lowest cost providers
in comparison to major teaching hospitals and other health systems.