USJ Men's Basketball's Jim Calhoun Honored by American Cancer Society
USJ Head Men's Basketball Coach Jim Calhoun was honored on Monday evening by the American Cancer Society at the 9th Annual Coaches vs. Cancer NYC Dinner Benefit.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Courtesy of USJ Athletics Communications
NEW YORK, N.Y. - University of Saint Joseph (USJ) Head Men's Basketball Coach Jim Calhoun was honored on Monday evening by the American Cancer Society at the 9th Annual Coaches vs. Cancer NYC Dinner Benefit held at the JW Marriot Essex House in New York City. In addition to the Hall of Fame Coach, John Bogusz of CBS Sports was the other 2018 nominee at the event which was hosted by CBS Sports' Tracy Wolfson as the Mistress of Ceremonies.
The Coaches vs. Cancer NYC Dinner Benefit brings the Sports Media, Digital and Entertainment Industries together for drinks, dinner, and dialogue. The evening was highlighted by a distinguished panel of Coaches and former Athletes who gave their perspective of leadership on and off the court.
Now in its ninth year, the dinner is hosted annually by the Coaches vs. Cancer benefit committee and has raised over $1.9 million to support the American Cancer Society's mission and goal of eliminating cancer as a major health problem and continuing to lead in the fight against cancer.
Past honorees of the event include longtime and colorful Turner Sports' reporter Craig Sager, Jake Piasecki (FOX Networks Group), Lynn Whitney (Warner Bros. Pictures and Home Video), Ari Bluman (GroupM), Jo Ann Ross (CBS Television Network), and Michelle Wazlawek (Enterprise Holdings, Inc.) among others.
About Coaches vs. Cancer
Coaches vs. Cancer is a nationwide collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches. The initiative leverages the personal experiences, community leadership, and professional excellence of basketball coaches nationwide to increase cancer awareness and promote healthy living through year-round awareness efforts, fundraising activities, and advocacy programs. Coaches vs. Cancer provides critical mission outreach while raising funds in support of the Society's lifesaving cancer research, education, advocacy, and community service efforts.
Coaches vs. Cancer evolved from a concept championed by Norm Stewart, former head coach of the University of Missouri's men's basketball program, a cancer survivor, and member of the National Association of Basketball Coaches. He started the program by challenging fans to pledge a dollar amount for every three points made by his team during the season.
The American Cancer Society and the NABC adopted that concept in 1993 and transformed it into a nationwide effort to unite coaches across the country in the common mission to provide help and hope to all people facing cancer. Today, more than 500 Division I, II, and III college coaches are involved in the program. Coaches vs. Cancer has raised over $100 million since its inception to support the American Cancer Society's lifesaving mission to eliminate cancer as a life-threatening disease. Additionally, more than 100 high school coaches also participate in the program.
In 1998, the Coaches vs. Cancer Council was formed—a distinguished group of NABC member basketball coaches, American Cancer Society volunteers, and business leaders from across the country - to explore new and innovative ways to raise funds, recruit prominent coaches, enhance the program, and help win the fight against cancer. Because cancer has touched so many of our nation's basketball coaches, Coaches vs. Cancer offers them the unique opportunity to fight the disease. Through integrated fundraising activities and public awareness campaigns, participating coaches are truly making a difference in the fight against cancer and are raising awareness in their communities about the importance of cancer prevention, early detection, and making healthy lifestyle choices.