The Preston Settles Basketball Tournament
The Preston Settles Basketball Tournament is a very honorable and significant event in the Newton, MA area. In February 2022 Preston Settles, a close friend, suddenly passed away from Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.
Preston’s death shook our community. His sister and I took the initiative to organize a way to remember and celebrate Preston’s life. The Preston Settles Basketball Tournament was soon founded as a nonprofit fundraiser to raise money for The Preston Settles Memorial Fund.
Our first tournament was hosted by Cha$e a bag co. on August 2nd, 2022, Preston’s birthday. Since then, we have successfully organized 3 tournaments in Preston’s name. Through merchandise sales and donations, we have raised over $10,000 since 2022.
No Bad Days 2024
The 3rd Annual Preston Settles Basketball Tournament wasn’t just a celebration of what would have been Preston’s 18th birthday—it marked the closing of a beautiful chapter our team poured so much heart into.
Ending the tournament in its third year felt like the right move, but we knew it had to be done with care. Reviving the Cha$e A Bag Co. merch was the first step in bringing back the same spirit and emotion that defined our first tournament. For this final edition, we partnered with Boston based brand Bio Productions—a movement and brand Preston loved. It was also the first ever collaboration for my company, which made it even more important that we got the message right. The 2024 No Bad Days campaign quickly became one of my favorite projects to date.
Roles
Expertise in shaping style and strategy across fashion and commerce, bringing visions to life through garment customizing (embroidery & hemming), styling, model curation, creative direction, trend insight, visual storytelling, marketing (@prestonsettles_tournament), e-commerce, graphic design operations, logistics, vendor relations, and day-of-show execution, and ensuring that the vision of the show came to life seamlessly.
No Bad Days ‘23
The 2023 Preston Settles Basketball Tournament
Our second annual tournament was a powerful continuation of Preston’s legacy, bringing the community together once again to celebrate his love for the game. In partnership with the West Suburban YMCA, we welcomed players, families, and supporters for a day filled with competition, connection, and purpose. Thanks to the incredible energy and generosity of everyone involved, we raised over $2,000 to support the fund, proving that each year the tournament grows in both spirit and impact.
Roles
Expertise in shaping style and strategy across fashion and commerce, bringing visions to life through garment design, model curation, creative direction, visual storytelling, marketing (@prestonsettles_tournament), e-commerce, graphic design operations, logistics, vendor relations, and day-of-show execution, and ensuring that the vision of the show came to life seamlessly.
The 2022 Preston Settles Basketball Tournament
Our first year was nothing short of a celebration of life. Players and spectators traveled from across New England to join us in honoring Preston’s legacy. Exclusive Cha$e a bag co. merchandise was given to players and purchased by spectators. With the help of merch sales and donations, we were able to raise almost $7,000 for the Preston Settles Memorial Fund during the tournament’s first year alone.
Roles
Founder and organizer of the annual Preston Settles Basketball Tournament, overseeing every aspect from concept to execution. Led logistics, scheduling, and vendor coordination. Directed all marketing and communications (@prestonsettles_tournament), designed and managed tournament merchandise and e-commerce. Created all graphics and promotional materials, and ensured seamless day-of-event operations. Took responsibility for shaping the tournament’s identity and impact, building the foundation for an annual community tradition.
