RICHARDSON, Texas –– With the generous assistance of its volleyball fans, the 13 American Southwest Conference volleyball programs combined to raise $2,097.17 over the 2009 season for the Dig Pink campaign to help raise awareness of breast cancer. The funds were presented to the Side-Out Foundation on Wednesday (Jan. 6).
“Several conferences throughout the country have gotten on board and it has made all the difference in the world,” Side-Out Foundation Founder and CEO Rick Dunetz said. “We hit our goal of over $1,000,000 in donations this year and the American Southwest Conference helped put us over the top.”
Dig Pink efforts were featured at each of the October cross-divisional tournaments and the ASC Volleyball Championship Tournament. During the cross-division tournaments, every player had a pink accessory incorporated into their uniform. In addition, coaches, team managers, athletics trainers, referees and table staff members wore a pink ribbon. Along with fans making donations, the conference provided Dig Pink prize packs at each cross-division and championship tournament site
“I am extremely pleased with the results of the ASC Dig pink events and our contribution to breast cancer research,” ASC Commissioner Amy Carlton said. “The conference-wide events selected and supported by the coaches and teams helped focus attention on this important health issue.”
The ASC volleyball teams include Concordia University Texas, East Texas Baptist University, Hardin-Simmons University, Howard Payne University, LeTourneau University, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, McMurry University, Mississippi College, Schreiner University, Sul Ross State University, University of Texas at Dallas, University of Texas at Tyler and Texas Lutheran University.
The Side-Out Foundation is a non-profit, charitable organization formed in 2004. Its name underscores the purpose of the organization, to regain control over the opponent. Likewise in the war against breast cancer, the foundation hopes to enable women and men affected with the disease and regain control of their lives and live it to the fullest.
Side-Out Foundation and Dig Pink information may be accessed online at www.side-out.org.