More than basketball: Family honors teen killed in Fayetteville with birthday fundraiser

SANFORD, N.C. (WNCN) — What would have been a teen’s 19th birthday became a day of remembrance, healing, and hope.

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The family of Harryson L. Anderson held a charity basketball tournament Saturday at Ascend Leadership Academy in Sanford, where Anderson graduated last year.

Anderson was an 18-year-old Fayetteville Technical Community College student who was shot and killed during a spring break house party in Fayetteville in March.

Instead of letting the tragedy define Harryson’s story, his parents created the Harryson L. Anderson Foundation to keep his legacy alive.

Saturday’s fundraiser featured five boys’ teams and five girls’ teams, along with food vendors, a raffle, and HLA Foundation merchandise. At the end of the tournament, balloons were released in honor of Anderson on his birthday. But the tournament was about much more than basketball.

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Proceeds will fund an annual $2,500 scholarship for a senior at Ascend Leadership Academy. The foundation also plans to provide financial assistance to families affected by youth gun violence and support anti-violence outreach efforts.

For Harryson’s family, the goal is to turn unimaginable loss into something that can help others.

For more information about the Harryson L. Anderson Foundation, visit the HLA Foundation online.

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