May 30, 2012
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; May 30, 2012 - Penn State basketball coach Patrick Chambers will be joined by nine of his fellow Penn State head coaches, including football coach Bill O'Brien, numerous former Nittany Lion players, notable figures from around Centre County and more than 300 golfers and sponsors Friday when the 16th Annual Coaches vs. Cancer Golf Tournament sponsored by Sheetz tees off at the Penn State Blue and White Golf Courses.
Among the many Nittany Lions serving as team captains in this year's event are former All-Big Ten basketball players Joe Crispin, Jarrett Stephens and Glenn Sekunda and honorable-mention All-American Mark DuMars, All-American football players Lydell Mitchell, John Skorupan and Glenn Ressler, former Nittany Lion basketball coach Bruce Parkhill and current Penn State head coaches Josh Brandwene (women's hockey), John Hargis (swimming), Char Morett (field hockey), Greg Nye (men's golf), Bill O'Brien (football), Jeff Thompson (women's gymnastics), Bob Warming (men's soccer), Coquese Washington (women's basketball) and Robbie Wine (baseball).
"My staff and I are very proud to be part of a great Penn State tradition in the Coaches Vs. Cancer Golf Tournament entering its 16th year," Chambers said. "This is our first one, and we are honored to be joined by the great sponsors, volunteers and CVC-Penn State committee that have made this event great every year.
"I'm thrilled that so many of my fellow Penn State coaches and former Penn State athletes are able to join us in the cause and I think it speaks to the strength of the Penn State community. "
Chambers, who underwent knee surgery in early May, will not be able to golf in the tournament, but his entire coaching staff will take the course as will five members of O'Brien's football coaching staff.
The 16th Annual event kicks off Thursday night, May 31, with a catered Captains/Sponsor Reception gala at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, the home of Penn State and State College Spikes baseball. That event features high-end hors d'oeuvres, open beverage service, live music and a silent auction amidst the scenic ballpark.
The following day nearly 60 groups, each captained by a Penn State coach or notable sports figure, and more than 300 golfers will participate in flights on both Penn State courses as the 5-man, 18-hole scramble gets underway. Golfers will hit the course starting at 7:00 a.m. Friday morning with the afternoon flight going off at 12:30 p.m. in a day full of golf, food and fun. The event wraps up Friday evening with a catered golf banquet in the Mt. Nittany Club at Beaver Stadium.
Additional information regarding participation in or sponsorship of the event is available at CVCPennState.org.
Led by Nittany Lion basketball coach Patrick Chambers, CVC-Penn State aims to eclipse $2 million raised. The organization has grown from an annual golf tournament started in the summer of 1996 to a year-round schedule of events, which includes the Spikes Fest, CVC 5k Fun Run/Walk, the Coaches Vs. Cancer Golf Tournament (June 1), Brewer's Expo, the CVC Reverse Car Drawing and CVC "Band Together" Day. CVC-Penn State ranked as the sixth highest fundraiser among Coaches vs. Cancer organizations nationally in 2011, raising more than $200,000 for the second-straight year, and has ranked among the top 10 for more than a decade.
National CVC organizations raised more than $6 million combined last year. Penn State's CVC organization supports the American Cancer Society, but also keeps a large portion of funds for use in supporting cancer-affected locals through the Bob Perks Cancer Assistance Fund (BCAF). With Penn State-CVC support, BPCAF has been able to distribute more than $250,000 in the past three year alone providing such things as: paying for gas and groceries; helping to pay household bills like utilities, rent, repairs, and car payments; subsidizing lodging at the American Cancer Society's Hope Lodge in Hershey for patients and their families; and much, much more.
To get involved as a sponsor or participant in Penn State Coaches vs. Cancer please visit CVCPENNSTATE.ORG or call 814-330-3337.
-NITTANY LIONS-