“We want to make sure his love for the game and the people in it continues”, Carla Balsar.
Scott Balsar was a pillar of the basketball community, whose passion for the game ignited the spirits of many across New South Wales. On January 10th, 2024, tragedy struck, and Scott was taken from this world, leaving behind a void that seemed impossible to fill.
The news of Scott’s passing sent shockwaves through the basketball community, leaving his family, friends, and basketball friends devastated. Among those deeply affected were his wife Carla and their three children, Chloe, Elijah, and Gemma and Scott’s parents Erwin & Dianne. But amidst the grief, there emerged a chance to honour Scott’s memory and continue his legacy of passion and dedication to the sport he loved.
Driven by their love for Scott and his unwavering commitment to basketball, Carla, alongside Scott’s friends and work colleagues at Basketball NSW, embarked on a journey to commemorate his life in a meaningful way. Thus, the Scott Balsar S.WISH Foundation was born—a beacon of hope that would shine brightly in the darkness of their loss.
The foundation’s mission is to celebrate Scott’s legacy by promoting and nurturing the talent of aspiring junior basketball players and coaches across regional NSW. And what better way to honour his memory than by resurrecting the beloved Easter Carnival, a senior social carnival that started back in 1970’s with the last one being held back in 1997 in his hometown of Bomaderry.
With unwavering determination, Carla and the dedicated team behind the Scott Balsar S.WISH Foundation set out to make the Easter Carnival a reality once again. But this time, it would carry Scott’s name, serving as a testament to his enduring legacy and the profound impact he had on the basketball community.
The inaugural Scott Balsar S.WSH Foundation Easter Carnival will be held in Moss Vale from 18-20 April 2025. Each year the carnival will be in a different regional NSW location before returning to Bomaderry in 2029 and be held at the Shoalhaven Indoor Basketball Stadium.
By partnering with the respective basketball associations, all proceeds generated from the event will go into the Scott Balsar S.WISH Foundation and will serve as scholarships awarded to young basketball players and coaches from across regional NSW, ensuring that Scott’s legacy of empowerment endures for generations to come.
Scott Balsar Easter Basketball Carnival
2025 – Moss Vale
2026 – TBC
2027 – TBC
2028 – TBC
2029 – Bomaderry/Nowra
Scott Balsar S.WISH Foundation will be led by his wife Carla Balsar, and supported by close friends of Scott and the family Steve Sardi, Natalie Donnelly and Geoff Tripp representing Basketball NSW. If you have any ideas to share or support to offer, please email [email protected]. To follow the Facebook page CLICK HERE.
