Knicks to host Sandy Hook kids, families Saturday

Knicks to host Sandy Hook kids, families Saturday

By BRIAN MAHONEY | AP Basketball Writer

NEW YORK (AP) -- The New York Knicks will host 150 children, their families and teachers from Sandy Hook Elementary School on Saturday when they play the Sacramento Kings.

Twenty or more children from the Newtown (Conn.) Choir from Sabrinas Encore Products will sing the national anthem before the game, the second time this week the Knicks and children from the devastated community about 90 minutes away will be together.

The Knicks organization on Tuesday visited Newtown, where 20 children and six adults were shot and killed at the school in December.

The team, the Knicks City Dancers and Madison Square Garden's Garden of Dreams Foundation hosted 400 children from Sandy Hook Elementary (now Chalk Hill Elementary) and their families at the Newtown Youth Academy in what was called a "Knicks Family Fun Day" event.

There were basketball drills and contests, along with other activities such as a magician, face painters and balloon makers in a carnival-type setting.

A month after the killings, children from the choir who will perform recorded "Sandy Hook: Somewhere Over the Rainbow." Proceeds from the sale of the song will benefit the Newtown Youth Academy and the United Way of Western Connecticut.