Pasadena education foundation benefits from McDonald's tourney

A local education foundation recently celebrated the fundraising success of its McDonald’s Texas Invitational Basketball Tournament.

Pasadena ISD Education Foundation President Bill Barmore recently was presented with a $145,000 check by McDonald’s Texas Invitational Basketball Tournament chair Ben Meador.

This annual tournament raises money for the Pasadena ISD Education Foundation, which funds grants for the district’s teachers and other educational projects.

According to the press release, over the past decade, the tournament has generated about $700,000. The 2010 tournament's economic impact was a record $2 million, and the estimated impact from the 2009 tournament was $1.5 million.

During the ceremony, Meador and Darla Haygood, the tournament’s organizing committee, honored Frank and Pat Braden with the Volunteer of the Year Award.