University Park, Pa. — Penn State-Coaches vs. Cancer will welcome more than 300 golfers, sponsors and celebrities to the Penn State Blue and White golf courses Friday for the 15th anniversary of the Coaches vs. Cancer Celebrity Golf Tournament sponsored by Sheetz.
Since its inception in 1996, the Penn State-CVC Celebrity Golf Tournament has grown into one of the top golf events in central Pennsylvania and stands as the flagship event for a Penn State-CVC program that now encompasses seven events in a year-round effort to raise money and awareness in the fight against cancer. The Celebrity Golf Tournament helped kickoff a record-setting year last year as Penn State-CVC raised more than $210,000 for the American Cancer Society and to provide direct assistance to individuals fighting cancer in the Centre region. Penn State-CVC has raised more than $1.5 million to date and is quickly closing in on the $2 million plateau.
More than 60 groups and celebrities totaling more than 300 golfers will participate in four flights on both Penn State courses on Friday as the 5-man, 18-hole scramble gets underway. Golfers will hit the course starting at 7:00 a.m. Friday morning with the afternoon flight going off at 12:30 p.m. The 15th Annual event kicks off Thursday night with a catered gala Celebrity/Sponsor Reception at the Bryce Jordan Center, which features a live and silent auction. Items to be live auctioned at the event this year include: 2012 U.S. Open Golf Tournament Tickets (2 full-week grounds passes), A Big Ten Hoops Away Game Trip (travel with the Penn State team), a Football Homecoming VIP Package (game tickets and VIP accesses) and a one-of-a-kind "Four The Glory" framed and matted Penn State Volleyball print celebrating the Nittany Lions’ four-straight NCAA titles and signed by coach Russ Rose. The event wraps up Friday evening with a golf banquet in the Mt. Nittany Club at Beaver Stadium.
Among the notable celebrities that will play in the event are 1,000-point Nittany Lion scorers Joe Crispin (3nd all-time), Jarrett Stephens (9th all-time) and Dan Earl (15th all-time), Nittany Lion football All-Americans Lydell Mitchell, Glenn Ressler, John Skorupan and Keith Conlin, Penn State football coaches Galen Hall and Jay Paterno, Nittany Lion coaches Russ Rose (Women’s Volleyball), Char Morett (Field Hockey), John Hargis (Swimming), Bob Warming (Men’s Soccer), Jeff Tambroni (Men’s Lacrosse) and Missy Doherty (Women’s Lacrosse), former Nittany Lion basketball head coach Bruce Parkhill, the Nittany Lion basketball radio team of Steve Jones and Dick Jerardi, X-Games legend Jamie Bestwick and many, many more.
The Celebrity Golf Tournament kicks off another full season of events, which includes: The Brewer’s Expo (Aug. 20), CVC Bike For Life (Aug. 28), Penn’s Cave Burger Off (August), CVC Reverse Car Drawing (Sept. 22), CVC Day at the Bryce Jordan Center (basketball season) and CVC Student 5k Fun Run/Walk (spring).
Penn State-CVC is the sixth highest fundraiser among Coaches vs. Cancer organizations nationally. National CVC organizations raised more than $6 million combined last year. Penn State’s CVC organization supports the American Cancer Society, but also keeps a large portion of funds for use in supporting cancer-affected locals through the Bob Perks Cancer Assistance Fund (BCAF). With Penn State-CVC support, BPCAF has been able to distribute more than $250,000 in the past three year alone providing such things as: paying for gas and groceries; helping to pay household bills like utilities, rent, repairs, and car payments; subsidizing lodging at the American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge in Hershey for patients and their families; and much, much more.
To get involved as a sponsor or participant in Penn State Coaches vs. Cancer please visit cvcpennstate.org or call 814-330-3337.