The Jeff Danner Memorial Scholarship will commemorate its 20th year of supporting the Mars girls and boys basketball teams Dec. 27.

The annual fund-raiser, which will be held at Mars High School, features men's and women's alumni basketball games, a 3-point shooting contest open to the public and various prize drawings.

Established in 1985, the scholarship honors the life of Jeff Danner, a former member of the Mars boys basketball team who contracted leukemia during his senior year and died two years later.

Each year, members of the scholarship's board of directors select college-bound seniors from the boys and girls basketball teams who best exemplify Danner's spirit and character rather than his athletic ability, though Danner was a starter for the Planets during his playing days.

Over the past 19 years, 47 students have received nearly $25,000 to help with college expenses.

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of this event, a special ceremony will be held at 8:30 p.m. Dec. 27 to recognize previous scholarship winners. All past recipients planning to attend the event should arrive by 8 p.m.

"It's great to see all of the former players, many of them kids that Jeff knew and played with on the team," said Robert Danner, Jeff's father. "It's like a winter homecoming of one big extended family.

"But it reminds us, too, of how long he's been gone."

A booklet profiling many of the scholarship recipients and what they've done with their lives since high school has also been assembled.

"Their achievements let us feel that, in some small way, Jeff is living on through them," said Betty Danner, his mother.

Considered by many a community tradition, the Danner Memorial Scholarship games attract nearly 100 former players representing 35 years of Mars High basketball history.

The anniversary event begins at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $4 for adults, $2 for students and will be available at the door.