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For some people, life is all sunshine and rainbows. In the world of Amy Hicks, it’s all about sundaes and hoops.
A volunteer with Severna Park Elks Lodge 2482, Hicks chairs the area’s Hoop Shoot basketball competition for youth athletes, and she started Sundae Funday, an event held three times a year for adults ages 18 and older with disabilities.
For as long as she can remember, Hicks has enjoyed volunteering. A mom of three boys and one girl, Hicks previously coached Green Hornets soccer and her kids’ swimming teams.
Five years ago, she followed her husband, Terry, by joining the Elks. A year and a half ago, she put her own stamp on the organization with Sundae Funday.
“I think I’ve been very lucky in my life,” Hicks said. “I feel good when I give back.”
As a physical therapist for 16 years, Hicks worked with kids who had disabilities. Once those kids became adults, she thought at the time, they did not have as many opportunities for fun.
She had a simple vision for Sundae Funday: a day of games, food, karaoke and dancing. She pitched the idea to Elks leadership, which then partnered with Bello Machre, The Arc Central Chesapeake Region, and Special Olympics Maryland to identify adults who would enjoy the day of fun and activities.
This March marked the fourth Sundae Funday and the biggest turnout yet with 167 guests. The first Sundae Funday had 80.
Guests enjoyed carnival-style activities: toss games, cornhole, make-and-take, bingo, crafts and face painting. Prizes included gift cards, fidget toys, activity books, jewelry, nail polish and hats.
Karaoke might have been the biggest hit with attendees.
“Many of them know the words by heart and don’t even read the screen,” Hicks said.
The three-hour event included a visit from the Oriole bird. Past events have featured Eco Adventures and Pets on Wheels. Those special visitors give guests an opportunity to interact.
“The families came over and said it felt like a safe place where they can have a good time,” Hicks said.
Once one event ends, planning for the next Sundae Funday begins. Hicks sets a date, books a DJ — usually Jim Cropper — and coordinates with Lynne Bailey, who prepares a feast of corn dogs, desserts and gluten-free offerings.
Hicks oversees a budget of about $2,000 for pizza, hot dogs, ice cream sundaes, games, and prizes for adults with disabilities and for their caregivers.
“I can’t tell you how many wonderful compliments we received from parents and caregivers of these outstanding people,” said Severna Park Elks President Andre Denault. “Amy Hicks goes above and beyond to ensure they have the best experience.”
Each year, Elks organizations nationwide invite kids to put their basketball shooting skills to the test. Physical education teachers narrow down a list of possible participants who then compete. For the Severna Park contest, Benfield Elementary School physical education teacher Emily Clark assists Hicks, who took over the local Elks Hoop Shoot responsibilities about three years ago.
The Hoop Shoot has separate contests for boys and girls ages 8-9, 10-11 and 12-13. Each participant shoots 10 free throws, takes a break and shoots 15 more for a total of 25. Whoever makes the most shots advances to the next level: district, state, regional and then national.
Folger Elementary School student Jack Burke won five straight free-throw contests through the Elks National Hoop Shoot this year, and on March 8 in Charlottesville, Virginia, he qualified for the national championship in Chicago for the 8-9 division. He is one of 12 finalists who will vie for a championship on April 26.
The Elks National Foundation pays for each family’s travel and lodging expenses during the national event. Winners receive personalized trading cards. Also, their names and pictures are displayed in a digital exhibit in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Jack hopes to be next on the list.
“I think he has a real shot,” Hicks said. “He gets 22 out of 25 every time.”
Severna Park has had two national finalists in three years. Davis Balderston was a finalist for the boys 10-11 national competition in 2023. He made 21 of 25 shots while the winner, Tennyson Smith of Idaho, hit 24 out of 25.
“It’s a really good program because it helps kids focus on a goal,” Hicks said, adding that it develops grit.
Hicks is proud to be a member of Severna Park Elks Lodge 2482, which donated an estimated $73,000 in goods and services over the last year. She also helps members submit grant requests to the Elks National Foundation to support Anne Arundel County nonprofits.
It’s a rewarding volunteer role. Plus, who wouldn’t want to spend their time thinking about sundaes and hoops?
“It’s nice,” Hicks said. “Without the Elks, I could never help all of these people by myself.”
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