Rio Women’s Basketball to Participate in “Play 4Kay” Initiative
RIO GRANDE – The University of Rio Grande women’s basketball program will participate in the “Play 4Kay” Breast Cancer Awareness initiative on Thursday night, Feb. 20, when the RedStorm entertains Bluefield (Va.) College in a key Mid-South Conference matchup.
Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. at the Newt Oliver Arena.
The “Play 4Kay” initiative, formerly known as WBCA Pink Zone, is an opportunity for a nation of coaches to raise breast cancer awareness and funds for research on the court, across campuses, in communities and beyond. Since its inception in 2007, the Play 4Kay initiative has raised over $2.8 million to support women’s cancer research.
The event was re-named to honor the memory of Kay Yow, former North Carolina State University head women’s basketball coach, who was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987, and passed away on January 24, 2009, after facing her third bout with the disease.
In conjunction with the initiative, staff and faculty at the University of Rio Grande have been participating in a “Penny War” for the past week leading up to the game.
Pennies count as one positive point each, but silver coins and paper money count AGAINST the office, which is where the competition begins. Participants can “bomb” their competitors’ jar by placing silver coins and paper money into it. For example, if an office appears to have accumulated a large number of pennies, a participant can “bomb” that jar by putting a quarter into the jar and the office’s points will decrease by 25, a dollar will reduce their points by 100, etc.
The office with the most points will be the winner and will receive two free pizzas from Zack and Scotty’s.
Rio Grande Elementary School is also participating in its own “Penny War”, with the winning classroom earning free admission to the game.
A number of area businesses, individuals, civic organizations and athletic teams will serve as participating sponsors for the event.
The list includes:
* Zeta Theta Chi–who is selling handmade pink ribbons for $1 and will be decorating the gym;
* Rio Grande Bookstore–which donated 20 shirts to be sold for $10 a piece at the game;
* Rio Grande Women’s Basketball–which will raffle off a pink and white basketball signed by all of the RedStorm players;
* Sodexo–which is donating pink desserts to be sold at the game;
* Phyllis Mason and Carolyn Berry–both of whom donated money to sponsor luminaries which will be sold for $5 each in honor of someone or in remembrance of someone.
* Zack and Scotty’s–which donated coupons for two free pizzas which will go to the winner of the Penny War held at the university;
* Subway–which donated four coupons for a free six-inch sub to be raffled off at the game;
* Ohio Valley Bank–which donated $50 to the fundraiser;
* Honey Creek BBQ–which has donated a t-shirt to be raffled off;
* Rio Grande Softball–which will donate their half of the 50/50 sale they normally conduct at every Rio basketball game.
* Bob Evans Restaurant–which will donate 15 percent of its sale from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. on Thursday at its Rio Grande location to the fundraiser.
In addition, the Rio Grande athletic department will donate half of the gate receipts to the cause.
All proceeds from the event will benefit Holzer Center for Cancer Care in Gallipolis.
