JAY — The fourth annual Jake Lord Play It Safe Foundation alumni basketball games will take place at 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 27, at the Spruce Mountain High School gym.

Lord, who died by suicide in 2012, was a star athlete at Jay High School. His sister, Jenna, is organizing the alumni games to benefit the foundation.

“The mission of the Jake Lord Play It Safe Foundation is to promote safety in youth sports, to increase public awareness of the impact of concussions on the mental health of athletes, and to promote public policies that will protect youth from the devastating consequences of head injuries,” she said in an e-mail.

The foundation’s major goals and objectives are to institute concussion awareness and baseline screening programs for athletes, their parents and youth sports coaches and trainers, and to promote state and local policies in school and other youth programs to protect youth from concussions and brain injuries. It continues to raise funds to purchase high-quality helmets and other sports equipment that will help reduce the likelihood of concussions and brain injuries to young athletes, coupled with training for coaches and sports equipment managers in the care and maintenance of the equipment.

“The idea for the games was a culmination of a lot of hard work, determination, and the desire to bring the community together for a good cause,” Jenna Lord said. “Jessica and Chris Bessey were fundamental in starting the games and have continued to be so important to the success of the event in following years. It seems as though the community is starting to look forward to the games each year.”

She said she is grateful for the local businesses that have offered support and players who participate each year. Lord said she was especially excited this year because some new alumni have signed up to play.

The schedule of games is:

Game 1 — 5 p.m., Spruce Mountain Boys Varsity v. Spruce Mountain Boys Alumni

Game 2 —  6:30 p.m., Spruce Mountain Girls Varsity v. Spruce Mountain Girls Alumni

Game 3 — 8 p.m., Jay High School Alumni v. Livermore Falls High School Alumni

Monetary donations and raffles are still being accepted for the event. E-mail Lord at [email protected] for more details.

“We also encourage everyone to invite their friends and families to join us for a fun night of basketball,” she said.

Food and beverages, T-shirts and Jake Lord Play It Safe Foundation magnets will be available for purchase. For more information, visit the Jake Lord Play It Safe Foundation Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/JLPISF/

[email protected]