University Park, Pa. — Coaches Vs. Cancer of Penn State posted a record of $207,050 in net funds raised for 2009-10 fiscal year, an increase of nearly $30,000 over the organization’s previous yearly fund raising record. The 2010-11 campaign kicked off with a grand opening event at Kildare’s Irish Pub and the upcoming annual Reverse Car Drawing on Sept. 23rd at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
"It’s really an amazing testament to the unbelievable support of our sponsors, volunteers and the community that we were able to achieve that number in these economic times," Coaches Vs. Cancer guiding force and Penn State Coach Ed DeChellis said. "To better our previous earnings record by almost $30,000 is astounding. It just shows our community’s commitment to fight this disease and provide support to those in the Centre Region affected by cancer won’t waiver and, in fact, grows stronger even in the face of economic adversity."
The fundraising record marked the fourth straight year in which the CVC-Penn State organization has raised more than $170,000, placing it among the top eight CVC organizations in the country, as CVC-Penn State went past a total net of $1.5 million raised since its inception in 1995-96.
"It’s really remarkable the amount of support we have received from our sponsors, the community, former players and celebrities, and our committee," DeChellis said. "Providing direct aid to families in our community is a real driving force and our sponsors and community have a great awareness of the devastating effects cancer and the impact their support can have."
CVC-Penn State kicked off its 2010-11 year round program on Thursday, Aug. 26th with a highly successful gathering in coordination with the grand opening of Kildare’s Irish Pub on East College Avenue. The event sponsored entirely by Kildare’s generated $4,340 in funds raised as 100’s gathered to enjoy the new State College establishment’s Irish cuisine and perfect pints of Guinness.
"What a great way to start off our 2010-11 fund raising campaign," said CVC committee co-chair Steve Greer. "The people at Kildare’s were so generous to propose to do this in their terrific establishment and support it in the first class manner they did. We are thrilled to welcome them to State College are looking forward to a long and prosperous relationship."
The CVC-Penn State program will continue on September 23rd with the annual Reverse Car Drawing at Medlar Field and Lubrano Park where a 2010 Ford Shelby Cobra GT500 will be given away to one lucky ticket holder. Tickets for two to the event are $350 and include multiple beverage options, lavishly catered food, live music, fireworks, sky-divers and one chance to win the car at a spectacular and popular community event. Tickets may be purchased by visiting www.cvcpennstate.org.
CVC-Penn State’s year-long program, which also includes events such as the student run 5K Fun Run/Walk, silent auctions, Alumni Free Throw Challenge, CVC Day Jersey Raffle, and donations from benefactors and memorials, has netted nearly $900,000 to fight cancer in the last five years alone. That number nearly doubles the total funds raised in the organization’s first 10 years of existence and dwarfs the $16,000 raised in its first year.
"The growth of our Coaches vs. Cancer organization over the past five years or so has been amazing," DeChellis said. "It’s really a testament to our terrific sponsors, our Golf Tournament Sponsor Sheetz, a community which supports the events and the committee and volunteers that plan and run things year round now. We had a vision for where we wanted to take this thing and the impact it could have in the community and it is very exciting to see it come to fruition and be supported in the way that it has."
The top 15 CVC organizations nationally raised a nearly $3.5 million combined last year. Coaches Vs Cancer – Penn State benefits the American Cancer Society’s mission to help people Stay Well, Get Well, Find Cure and Fight Back. Last year funds allowed the American Cancer Society to provide 685 services to local cancer patients including 35 visits to Hope Lodge, which provides a temporary home to cancer patients undergoing treatment at no cost. This year alone, 30 different families from Centre County have spent 826 nights at the Hope Lodge through the first eight months of the fiscal year, far surpassing the next closest county (Lycoming – 350 nights). The American Cancer Society is also the largest non-profit funder of cancer research, with over $37 million in research taking place in Pennsylvania each year, including three research grants totaling over $3.1 million at Penn State University.
In addition, through a close allegiance with the Bob Perks Cancer Assistance Fund (BCAF), funding is provided to directly assist those affected by the disease in the Centre Region. Coaches Vs Cancer has been able to grant BPCAF over $100,000 in funding over the last four years with the most recent grant in 2009 being $35,403.
To get involved as a sponsor or participant in Coaches Vs Cancer – Penn State please visit CVCPENNSTATE.ORG or call 814-330-3337, or call the American Cancer Society at 814-234-1023 or visit www.cancer.org.