OLD WESTBURY, NY (www.OLDWESTBURYPANTHERS.com) – The SUNY College at Old Westbury men’s basketball program will host its annual NABC Coaches vs. Cancer® Suits and Sneakers awareness game on Thursday, January 22. Head coach Bernard Tomlin and his staff will be wearing sneakers with their suits during Old Westbury’s Skyline Conference game against rival Farmingdale State to raise awareness about the fight against cancer, and the American Cancer Society to show support for the Coaches vs. Cancer® program.

By wearing sneakers, participating coaches help raise awareness about cancer and the importance that nutrition and physical activity play in reducing one’s risk of the disease. Additionally, this event helps promote the American Cancer Society as a place for people facing cancer to turn for free information, day-to-day help, and emotional support.

Old Westbury will also be collecting new and used sneakers and shoes, with donations heading towards Shoes For All (SFA), a non-profit 501 (c)(3 ) organization. SFA facilitates the collection of unused shoes and distributes them to those in desperate need of foot wear. Their overall goal is simple: if you don’t want to walk in your shoes then give them to someone who does. SFA was formed because there are families, mothers, fathers and children who have tremendous financial problems right here in the United States that need our help. SFA is changing lives one step at a time by providing new or lovingly worn shoes for the less fortunate. A collection bin will be available in the Clark Athletic Center lobby where sneaker donations can be dropped off throughout the game.

About Coaches vs. Cancer®
The Coaches vs. Cancer program is a nationwide collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC). The initiative leverages the personal experiences, community leadership and professional excellence of coaches nationwide to make a difference in the fight against cancer. The program seeks to increase cancer awareness and promote healthy living among students, faculty and staff, fans and the community at large. Since its inception in 1993, the American Cancer Society Coaches vs. Cancer initiative has raised more than $87 million to support the Society’s mission.

Coaches vs. Cancer® Mission
To increase cancer awareness and promote healthy living among students, faculty, school staff, fans, and the community at large, through year-round awareness efforts, fundraising activities, and advocacy programs.

Coaches Making a Difference
Coaches vs. Cancer® leverages the personal experiences, community leadership, and professional excellence of basketball coaches nationwide to increase cancer awareness and promote healthy living through year-round awareness efforts, fundraising activities, and advocacy programs.

This program provides critical mission outreach, while raising funds in support of the Society’s lifesaving efforts to help people stay well and get well, fund groundbreaking research into cancer’s causes and cures, and fight back through legislative action and the local, state, and national levels. Since 1993, high school and college coaches across the country have raised nearly $85 million to support the American Cancer Society’s fight against cancer.

College basketball coaches spend hours planning and preparing for their opponents. Each year members of the NABC also spend tireless hours to prepare a game plan off the court in the fight against cancer through their involvement with the Coaches vs. Cancer program.

Together, we can save lives.

About the American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers saving lives and fighting for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. As the largest voluntary health organization, the Society’s efforts have contributed to a 20 percent decline in cancer death rates in the U.S. since 1991, and a 50 percent drop in smoking rates. Thanks in part to our progress nearly 14 million Americans who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will celebrate more birthdays this year. While marking our 100th birthday in 2013, we’re determined to finish the fight against cancer. We’re finding cures as the nation’s largest private, not-for-profit investor in cancer research, ensuring people facing cancer have the help they need and continuing the fight for access to quality health care, lifesaving screenings, clean air, and more. For more information, to get help, or to join the fight, call us anytime, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org to learn more.

Please contact us with any questions at CoachesvsCancer@cancer.org.

For the latest news on the Panthers, log on to www.oldwestburypanthers.com – the official site of Old Westbury athletics. Also, become a follower of the Panthers on Twitter (@OW_Panthers) and Instagram (OW_Panthers) and “LIKE” Us on Facebook (Old Westbury Panthers Athletics & Recreation / Old Westbury Athletics Alumni).

While we were out enjoying our recent holiday break, some of our students and staff gave up some of their well deserved rest and turned their attention to a noble cause. On December 29th & 30th, the Girls’ Varsity Basketball team hosted the 1st annual Juvenile Arthritis Foundation Tournament at POBJFK high school. The tournament consisted of three local schools, Bethpage, Great Neck North, Bellmore JFK, as well as the home team, Plainview Old-Bethpage. The purpose of this tournament was to raise money as well as awareness for the Juvenile Arthritis Foundation. As a whole, all 4 teams were able to raise over $500, with 100% of earnings donated to the foundation.

The Girls’ Varsity Basketball team volunteered their time to set up the tournament and helped raise over $200 as a team.

Brianna Bollettieri, an alumni who has been honored by this foundation, dropped by to thank the team for their efforts.

Special thanks to the POB Booster Club for supporting the Hawks basketball team and designing/ donating T—shirts for the participants in the tournament to take home as a souvenir.
The generous spirit of these lady Hawks have certainly inspired me for the New Year!

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Cleveland State student-athletes, members of the CSU Department of Athletics and members of the Wolstein Center staff are helping families in need during the holiday season through the Adopt-A-Family Program.

A total of 10 families and more than 40 total people, including 32 children, were assisted through the program. All families reside in Cleveland with ages ranging from two weeks to adults.

Organized by the CSU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), the SAAC members collected more than $4,000 in cash donations from their teammates, coaches and athletic department staff, shopped for items on the families’ wish lists and wrapped the items for delivery. Items included clothes, coats and toys.

The Wolstein Center staff also collected and distributed gifts for a family in need this holiday season.

The Adopt-a-Family Program assists hundreds of families each year, helping lessen the stress for families that often surrounds the holiday season. Many of the families have little or no financial resources, so the contributions of volunteers like the Viking student-athletes make a significant difference in creating a memorable holiday.

To learn more please visit: http://www.csuvikings.com/genrel/2014-15/AdoptFamily

By Michelle Traen on January 5, 2015 11:06 AM

Check out what some of the Gophers did during the Holiday season!

Gopher Athletics held toy drives at the Dec. 18 wrestling match, the Dec. 19 Gopher men’s basketball game and the Dec. 20 women’s basketball game. As fans entered the arenas, Gopher Athletics raised over $2,500 and collected hundreds of new toys. The toy distribution benefited both Toys for Tots and the St. Joseph’s Home for Children during this holiday season.

To read more and see videos on their community service work please visit: http://www.gophersports.com/blog/2015/01/gophers-during-the-2014-holiday-season.html