The B1 professional basketball team Akita Northern Happinets and a major insurance company worked together to collect Bell Marks and donate them to two elementary schools in Akita City. The Bell Marks will be exchanged for basketballs.

The presentation ceremony, held on the 20th, was attended by Akita Northern Happinets President Mizuno Yuki and Hara Naoto, executive officer of Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance, a major insurance company headquartered in Tokyo, and saw the Happinets’ mascot character, Vicky, hand over 66,638 Bell Marks to representative students from Akita City’s Higashi Elementary School and Asahikawa Elementary School.

Bellmarks are collected at home game venues and agencies and are exchanged for basketballs to be used in physical education classes and youth sports club activities.

Happinets President Mizuno said, “I think this is a very meaningful activity that involves the Akita Northern Happinets and our fans, so we would like to expand the scope of our activities even further.”

In addition, Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance Managing Executive Officer Hara said, “There are probably kids who know about basketball but have never played it. By giving them an experience up close, I think it will ultimately help to liven up Akita, a prefecture that thrives on sports, and help make the Happinets more popular.”

The two companies plan to continue working together to collect Bell Marks and donate basketballs to elementary schools outside of Akita City.