Sept. 19, 2008
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA., Sept. 19, 2008 - Penn State coach Ed DeChellis and Penn State Coaches vs. Cancer kicked off their 2008-09 fund raising drive with the third annual CVC Reverse Car Drawing at Penn State's Medlar Field at Lubrano Park baseball complex Thursday night.
More than 600 supporters attended the lavishly catered event held on the stadium concourse on a gorgeous September evening. The home of the State College Spikes and Penn State baseball was transformed into a garden party for the gala event with stylish landscaping, ice sculptures, wine and drink bars and veranda décor. Attendees enjoyed the lavish catering of Danny Rallis as they mingled and enjoyed live music provided by JR Mangan and Tommy Wareham.
"It was just a terrific evening for a great cause that has touched everyone," DeChellis, a cancer survivor, said. "The CVC committee continues to put on first class events and the support of our sponsors and the community continues to be tremendous. It was a great way to get our fund raising activities started this year."
Well known ReMax Realty agent Nancy Ring had the last number drawn on the night as her name was announced by the voice of the Nittany Lions Steve Jones as the winner of the Corvette. But, the big winner on the night was the American Cancer Society and CVC, which will net more than $25,000 from the night as they look to build on the $1 million plateau of funds raised in the first 12 years of the Penn State CVC organization.
"There is no way to express the gratitude we feel and how appreciative we are for all the support Coaches vs. Cancer receives throughout the year from our community, our Nittany Lion basketball family, and friends as far away as California," committee member Elana Pyle said. "We have loyal sponsors too numerous to mention who have been with us since we started this journey over a decade ago, and we owe so much of our success to them. The Rallis and Leitzell families are the major sponsors of the reverse drawing, and we are very lucky to be the recipients of their generosity."
CVC Committee chairman Steve Greer spoke to the crowd and electrified the night with his presence. The longtime committee director has been battling leukemia since the summer.
"Having our CVC director, Steve Greer, with us last night was the icing on the cake," Pyle said. "He and so many others who are fighting cancer are the reason we put so much time and energy into CVC. Our committee has a common goal - try to make a difference in the lives of those who have been affected by a disease that has touched all of us in one way or another."
Tickets were drawn every 15 minutes and names were displayed on the stadium scoreboard eliminating a new batch of hopefuls until the final winning ticket was drawn late in the evening. Entrants enjoyed a selection of beverages and cocktails ranging from a wine bar presented in a beautiful ice sculpture to martinis and island drinks served over a tiki bar.
Coach DeChellis and his wife, Kim, got the evening started by welcoming guests as they entered the park before skydivers descended into the outfield delivering the American flag. Guests also enjoyed swinging for the fences from home plate as Penn State baseball coach Robbie Wine pitched and testing their golf skills hitting to a flag in center field in a closest-to-the-pin contest. A fireworks display capped off a special evening.
The Penn State Coaches vs. Cancer chapter raised more than $180,000 each of the last two years and a 12-year total of over $1 million through events such as the reverse drawing and the annual Celebrity Golf Tournament held in June. The chapter, which supports the American Cancer Society, has also made great efforts to keep much of the money raised in the local community providing direct financial assistance to individuals and families stricken by cancer through a close alliance with the Bob Perks Cancer Assistance Fund (BPCAF).
For more information on Penn State Coaches vs. Cancer please visit www.cvcpennstate.org.