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The Levittown community gathered together for the Jonas E. Salk Middle School and General Douglas MacArthur High School wrestling teams annual Sumo to Support fundraiser to support a community member in need on Jan. 11. Through their efforts, the teams raised $4,000.

This was the third year that the middle school and high school wrestling teams hosted the event for a good cause. This year the focus was on helping Tara Dougherty, a mother of three MacArthur High School wrestlers and two MacArthur High School graduates, who is undergoing cancer treatments. The whole family was present for the special evening where they were introduced by MacArthur wrestling coach Rob Paletta.

“This fundraiser is to support one of our own,” he said. “This is how the Levittown community comes together.”

The first round featured Salk and MacArthur staff members dressed in sumo suits who took to the mat to face off in a friendly competition of who could take the other one down. MacArthur High School graduate and current UFC fighter Gian Villante was the special guest referee for the competition and students held up signs and cheered in support for their favorite teachers.  

Leading up to the event, students participated in raffles to help raise money by picking the jar of who they thought would win each round. After each match, the sumo winner would pick a raffle ticket from their jar and that student would win a prize. Following the first round, the MacArthur varsity and JV wrestling teams wrestled against Mepham High School.

Student versus student matches concluded the evening as participants challenged their friends in the sumo suits. These students represented clubs and sport teams including football, cheer, volleyball, band, lacrosse, drama club and the school store. 

“We thank God every day for the community and how they have come together,” said Tara Dougherty’s husband John Dougherty. “It’s really outstanding to see how supportive and helpful everyone has been.”

Photo Captions:

1. (L-R) Referee Gian Villante crowned the winner of the sumo match between math teachers David Levy and Bill Kind.
2. (L-R) Sixth-graders Will Irwin, Daniel Reynolds, Luca Paletta and Jerry Kirchner from Jonas E. Salk Middle School cheered on their teacher.
3. The Levittown community gathered together to support the Dougherty family (pictured) in Mrs. Dougherty’s fight against cancer.  
4. (L-R) MacArthur High School seniors Mark Medina and Robert Tutowitz prepared to go against each other during their sumo match.
5. MacArthur High School students battled it out in sumo suits to raise money for a community member in need.

Photos courtesy of the Levittown Public Schools

High school student-athletes made a big difference in their community by donating a reading area for Kindergarten students.

Last fall, Chicago Kindergarten teacher Abena Story asked for help to make the reading area for her students, but she got more in return than she ever expected.

Story knew it wouldn’t be a normal day when she walked into her classroom to see cameras and extra guests.

No one told her that high school students from across Chicago spent the morning unloading a van and assembling the furniture she asked for to create the reading space.

In December, all of these Pepsico Showdown Student-Athletes decided to contribute at least $1 donation to reach the end-goal of $1,000.

But that wasn’t all. Each athlete donated their favorite book to the library.

They also brought new bikes as an incentive to read and then presented Story with a check for $3,500.

“It’s more supplies to them learn, and to help them understand how to sit down and socialize,” said Story.

Story not only wanted the space for reading but to help her student interact and build social skills.

The students who pitched in said they hope the donation will make a difference for years to come.

“Being able to see their faces when they saw their books and their bikes,” said one student-athlete. “That was just like a whole other type of happy feeling that I have.”

“These kids are wonderful,” Story added. “They’ve taken off school, they’ve helped put all of this together. I’m so appreciative to all of you guys.”

This donation was part of the Making a Difference on and off the Field campaign led by the Chicago non-profit Buddy’s Helpers, along with the Pepsico Showdown. These programs unite student-athletes in an annual community service campaign to show how powerful giving back to their community can be.

http://www.nbc-2.com/story/37304389/student-athletes-raise-money-to-build-kindergarten-reading-space

For many cancer patients, the strain to pay for rent, groceries, utilities or out-of-pocket medical costs can sap away energy just when they need it most.

That’s why local female student athletes — many from area Catholic high schools — raised over $40,000 this fall hosting volleyball tournaments to help patients cover everyday expenses so they can focus on fighting the disease.

On Tuesday, students from Mount Carmel Academy, St. Mary’s Dominican, Archbishop Chapelle, Cabrini and St. Scholastica high schools, as well as Loyola University, will present Tulane Cancer Center with a check for $41,234, the cumulative proceeds from each school’s “Pink Games” fundraisers.

The check presentation will take place at 10:30 a.m., Jan. 23, at the Tulane Comprehensive Cancer Clinic, 150 S. Liberty St., New Orleans.

Pink Games are a series of benefit volleyball games where athletes and spectators wear pink to honor women fighting breast cancer and those who have lost their battles.  Some schools incorporate ceremonies to honor family members or friends who have been diagnosed.

The funds will support patients through Tulane Cancer Center’s Patient Relief Fund, an important source of assistance for cancer patients facing financial burdens that could become barriers to their care.

The program helped stage-two breast cancer survivor Deneen McCormick-Phillips pay for transportation from Hammond to New Orleans for treatments, as well as prescription medications and other out-of-pocket medical expenses.

“The bills add up so quickly,” said McCormick-Phillips, who was dealing with the death of her son at the same time as her cancer diagnosis.  “This grant may not seem like a lot, but to me it was like receiving a million dollars.  It was an unexpected blessing that helped to sustain me for several months.  The students who helped to raise these funds should be applauded.  They didn’t even know me, but their efforts helped to uplift me at a very difficult time.  Thank you seems like too simple a phrase to express my appreciation.”

This year’s Pink Games set a fundraising record, nearly doubling proceeds raised last year. The program has raised more than $116,000 for cancer patients since 2013.

“I am truly amazed by the total amount of money that was raised this year,” said Pink Games Founder David Mocklin, head athletic trainer at Mount Carmel Academy and Tulane Institute of Sports Medicine. “We added another school to our core group and nearly every school had record totals this year. All of the credit goes to the student bodies, athletes, coaches, administrators, student council and parents at each of these schools. I am so happy that we are able to give back to the patients in our community who need help. We pray that these fundraising efforts will continue to impact the lives of cancer patients that continue to battle each day.”

by Keith Brannon

http://news.tulane.edu/pr/pink-games-raise-money-%E2%80%94-and-hope-%E2%80%94-patients-fighting-cancer

When the UConn Women’s Ice Hockey team took the ice for their home matchup against the Boston Terriers, their bright pink neon jerseys drew the eye.

The Huskies rocked the pink jerseys for Skating Strides Against Breast Cancer, an initiative that raised money for the UConn Health Center.

“Super proud of my team, it’s been a tradition since I’ve been here and I just love how our team rallies,” head coach Chris Mckenzie said.

Over $6,000 were raised for the cause. The UConn women’s ice hockey team is just one of the Connecticut teams that does events like this.

The UConn men’s soccer team plays with pink laces, the UConn women’s soccer team plays with pink jerseys, just like the women’s basketball team. The men’s basketball team spends Christmastime with the community in Hartford.

It’s all about giving to the community for the flagship university.

“I think it’s part of who we are, part of our culture, we are giving back to the community and there isn’t anyone out there who is not affected in some way by cancer,” Mckenzie said.

Skating Strides Against Breast Cancer was funded in 2006 and has contributed nearly$400,000 in 11 seasons, according to the Hockey East Website.

UConn raises the money through youth clinics, which took place last Monday at Freitas. Participants pay a registration fees. Players are part of the clinic but they also have another way to help raise money.

“Storming the Doors” is a program in which players sell T-shirts and the proceeds go to the UConn Health Center.