May 20, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; May 20, 2009 - Many famous faces from Nittany Lion sports history and the national sports scene will be in attendance when coach Ed DeChellis hosts events for the 13th Annual Coaches vs. Cancer Celebrity Golf Tournament, June 4-5 in State College.
The event, which raised nearly $180,000 last year and broke the $1 million threshold in total funds raised to fight cancer, continues to attract 100's of golfers from the Centre Region and a strong cast of local and national celebrities. Over 70 celebrities are confirmed to play in this year's event, among them are such luminaries as College Football Hall of Fame running back Lydell Mitchell, Big Ten basketball coaching legend Gene Keady, X-Games star Jamie Bestwick, Big Ten Network personalities Dave Revisine, Rick Pizzo and Wayne Larrivee and top 10 all-time Nittany Lion basketball scorers Joe Crispin (2nd), Pete Lisicky (3rd), Jamelle Cornley (4th), Geary Claxton (6th), Tom Hovasse (7th) and Titus Ivory (9th) among many others.
Led by Coach DeChellis, a cancer survivor and 2006 CVC National Man-of-the-Year, the Penn State chapter of Coaches vs. Cancer has developed a year-around program of events to help raise money to fund cancer research and directly aid those affected by the disease in the Central Pennsylvania community.
Festivities for the golf tournament begin Thursday evening, June 4, with a gala Sponsor/Celebrity Reception in the Bryce Jordan main arena featuring the lavish catering of Danny Rallis and a one-of-a-kind silent and live auction featuring unique sports memorabilia and once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. Among the items up for bid in the live auction are the opportunity to travel and stay with the Nittany Lions on a Big Ten road trip next season, tickets to the 2010 U.S. Open Golf Tournament at Pebble Beach, a chance to host a nationally televised segment of the Penn State Basketball Story, a VIP package to next season's Indiana football game hosted by Penn State athletic director Tim Curley, a football autographed by Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl hero James Harrison, and a 2009 NIT Championship ring commemorating Penn State's first-ever national tournament title in basketball.
The golf tournament is played on Friday, June 5 at the Penn State Blue and White Golf Courses and features morning and afternoon tee times for nearly 400 golfers. Abundant food and beverage are supplied on course in what is annually one of the areas most anticipated golf events of the season.
The event wraps up with a catered banquet Friday evening held high above "Happy Valley" in Beaver Stadium's Mount Nittany Club.
Some opportunities still remain for golfers to play in the tournament or individuals to purchase tickets to the Thursday or Friday night events. For more information on playing in, attending or getting involved in sponsoring the Coaches Vs. Cancer Celebrity Golf Tournament please visit www.CVCPennState.org or call Kent Wible at 814-278-6945.
-NITTANY LIONS-