Tom & Lupe Izzo Announce Statewide Campaign to Support American Cancer Society’s Life-Saving Mission

1/23/09 Posted in News  |  0 Comments

Tom and Lupe Izzo know well the devastating effects of cancer and they recognize that the best defense against this life-threatening disease is a good offense.

Today, joined by representatives from the American Cancer Society and the local community, Tom and Lupe Izzo invited businesses and civic organizations from across the state to lace up their shoes to fight cancer and take part in the Coaches vs. Cancer of MSU Suits and Sneakers Fundraising Challenge.

The Suits and Sneakers Fundraising Challenge brings together coaches, players and fans on the same team and provides an alternative to traditional corporate sponsorship. This challenge is a pledge-based worksite fundraiser, Wear Your Sneakers to Work Day that combine employee contributions with corporate matched gifts. Participating worksites will select a day during the basketball season to encourage their employees to wear sneakers for a donation within their place of business.

Suits and Sneakers is a national Coaches vs. Cancer event that is held one weekend each year during basketball season to raise awareness about the American Cancer Society and the Coaches vs. Cancer program, a nationwide collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC). The program leverages the personal experiences, community leadership, and professional excellence of our country’s college basketball coaches to raise funds for the American Cancer Society and reduce cancer risk through education programs.

“As a coach, I have always purposely scheduled tough opponents to play against; however, from a personal standpoint, I imagine cancer to be the toughest opponent one could ever face,” Izzo said. “Lupe and I have decided to devote ourselves to this battle. This effort will allow all of us to be on the same team, battling the same opponent and accomplishing a shared goal.”

For more information or to find out how your business can participate, please contact your local American Cancer Society office.

The kick-off event coincides with the national Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers Awareness Weekend, which is scheduled for Jan. 30 – Feb. 1. Coaches and coaching staff will sport sneakers with their usual game attire during weekend games to show support for this unifying program within the college basketball community. By wearing sneakers, participating coaches are also promoting the fact that the Coaches vs. Cancer program continues to play an important role in furthering the mission of the American Cancer Society.

Since the program’s inception in 1993, high school and college basketball coaches and their wives from across the county have raise nearly $45 million to support the Society’s lifesaving efforts to eliminate cancer.
The American Cancer Society is the nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by saving lives, diminishing suffering and preventing cancer through research, education, advocacy and service. Founded in 1913 and with national headquarters in Atlanta, the Society has 13 regional Divisions and local offices in 3,400 communities, involving millions of volunteers across the United States. For more information anytime, call toll free 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit www.cancer.org