University Park, Pa. — The 2010 WBCA Pink Zone at Penn State was a record-breaking event in the Lady Lions’ fight against breast cancer as the Penn State women’s basketball team donated $80,339.08 to four breast cancer charities. Led by honorary co-chairs and breast cancer survivors Mimi Barash Coppersmith and Dean Nan Crouter, the funds raised by the 2010 Pink Zone at Penn State were donated to charities on the local, state and national level and included Mount Nittany Medical Center, Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition (PBCC) and the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund. In four Pink Zone annual events, the Lady Lions have donated more than $165,000.
The Lady Lions 2010 Pink Zone game received an additional $52,805 from in-kind donors from many local and regional businesses, including Forever Broadcasting, Centre Daily Times, Martin’s Potato Chips, Town & Gown Magazine, Barash Media, 3WZ, Magnum Broadcasting, WTAJ, The Daily Collegian and The Sign Factory.
The Lady Lions welcomed a record 281 breast cancer survivors to the Bryce Jordan Center as Penn State took on Illinois on January 24, 2010. The Lions topped the Illini, 70-66, in front of 8,471 fans as they honored breast cancer survivors and generated awareness to the fight against breast cancer.
The monies donated to Mount Nittany Medical Center will fund the "Penn State Lady Lion Basketball Cancer Resource Center" as part of the new cancer center at Mount Nittany, which will be built onto the Health Services wing at the hospital. The Resource Center will feature a lending library, American Cancer Society resources, volunteer support, internet access to get the latest information and space for support groups to meet.
The Lady Lions’ donation to the Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute will fund the "Penn State Lady Lion Basketball Endowment." The endowment will provide grants for novel ideas in breast cancer research and will be awarded annually once it is fully vested.
Penn State’s fundraising efforts for the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition was used to put a special pink wrap on the organization’s van that is used to travel the state and spread the message of breast cancer awareness and education.
The fourth beneficiary is the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, which is named for former N.C. State women’s basketball coach Kay Yow. The Yow Fund is a charitable organization committed to being a part of finding an answer in the fight against women’s cancers through raising money for scientific research, assisting the underserved and unifying people for a common cause.
The Lady Lions express special thanks to the following primary sponsors for their strong support of the 2010 WBCA Pink Zone at Penn State: Jeanne Donlevy Arnold, Mount Nittany Medical Center, Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, Penn State Bookstore and Shaner Associates.
For more information on the Pink Zone at Penn State, visit the official Pink Zone website at www.gopsusports.com/pinkzone.
2010-11 Lady Lion Basketball season tickets are available by calling 814-867-2557. Season tickets are $117 for adults, $52 for youth and $91 for seniors. The PNC Flex Books are available again this year for $99. The Flex Book gives fans 10 vouchers that can be redeemed for Nittany Lion and Lady Lion Basketball tickets in any combination.
The Lady Lions are on Twitter. Follow head coach Coquese Washington (@psucoachquese), sports information contact Kris Petersen (@ladylionsid) and the Lady Lions and assistant coaches (@pennstatewbb) to get the inside scoop. The Lady Lions are also on Facebook. Search Lady Lion Basketball and become a fan.