There’ll be a dramatically new twist in place when the 2009-2010 IBCA Coaches vs. Cancer campaign kicks off in January, according to Ben Risinger, Community Representative for the American Cancer Society. According to Ben, who helps coordinate the state’s effort among IBCA coaches, the 2008-09 campaign was celebrated at a “Basket Ball” held in Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis last spring at which the Top Five IBCA Coaches/Fund Raisers in Indiana were singled out and honored along with their communities and schools.
That event will be replicated next spring at another site (TBA) and held in conjunction with the NCAA’s Final Four which will be played in Indianapolis in April 2010. The date for the “Basket Ball” is April 2, and coaches from around the USA, including Indiana, will be invited to buy tickets for the big event, which will shower honors on five Hoosier high school IBCA coaches who are among the top five in the state in generating donations for the American Cancer Society.
Coaches who were honored last year along with the amount reported to the IBCA include Dan Huizenga, Knox High School, $5,300; Tom Beach, Forest Park High School, $2,795; Ryan Kammen, North Central High School in Farmersburg, $2433; Marty Johnson, Whiteland High School, $2,200 and Steve Burke, Scecina High School in a joint effort with Bishop Chatard High School, $1756.
Risinger said over $67,900 was raised last year in Indiana through the Coaches vs Cancer campaign endorsed and supported by the IBCA. “I was very proud of the State of Indiana, “Risinger said, “and I’m extremely proud of our partnership with the IBCA in this extraordinary campaign against the ravages of cancer which seems to touch the life of everyone at some point.
The IBCA has again designated the month of January as Coaches vs. Cancer month for high school basketball in Indiana, according to Steve Witty, IBCA Executive Director. The past two seasons the IBCA boys' and girls' coaches have raised over $125,000. Again this year we are asking every IBCA boys' and girls' coach to select a game during the month of January and promote Coaches vs Cancer by wearing sneakers during that game or other creative approaches. (See list below)
Once you have determined the date for your Coaches vs Cancer game, please e-mail this information to Gene Milner (gmilner@tds.net) so we can list your game dates on our Coaches vs Cancer calendar. During the game we are asking you to pass a container through the crowd (or make one available at your ticket counter) for fans to make their donations. Checks should be made payable to the American Cancer Society. After the game we ask you to do the following: e-mail or write to Steve Witty, (witty@indy.rr.com) to let him know that you participated and how much money was collected. Bob Lovell of WIBC Indiana Sports Talk radio Show would also like to know how much you collected. We encourage you to call Bob on his sports talk show to report how much you collected for your Coaches vs Cancer game. Send a check for the amount collected (payable to the American Cancer Society) to your local American Cancer Society office or send to Steve Witty, P. O. Box 638, Plainfield, In 46168 and he will forward the collection to the Coaches vs. Cancer Office in Indianapolis. Please make plans now to include a Coaches vs Cancer game on your schedule of games for this season. Our goal is 100% participation of all high school teams in Indiana. For further assistance with your effort, contact Ben Resinger at 317-985-8995 in Indianapolis for ideas and support.
Some promotional ideas for your Coaches vs Cancer Games
- Coins for cancer: collect loose change
- Home room competition
- Signed basketball raffle (Wilson might donate basketballs)
- Poster in memory of cancer victims
- Donate money to put up poster with name of cancer survivor
- Coaches or players wear pick socks
- Cheerleaders wear pink socks and bows
- Sell specifically designed t-shirts with appropriate message of Coaches vs. Cancer
- Some athletic directors' donate $1 for each game ticket sold
- Classes set up donation buckets at home game
- Dress down day for high schoolers and/or grade schoolers
- Wear pink warm up shirts and pink shoe laces
- Hold a “silent auction” in gyms main lobby
- Sell cookies or ice cream during lunch break and donate proceeds to Coaches vs Cancer
- Name a favorite community cancer survivor and sell pink carnations in his or her honor
