CB South's Coaches vs. Cancer event raised approximately $6,000.
There’s something special about uniting for a common cause, and the Central Bucks South community found that out in a hurry when it hosted its first Coaches vs. Cancer event.
Three years later, it has become an eagerly awaited annual event, and on Tuesday, emotions ran high when the Third Annual Coaches vs. Cancer event was held in conjunction with a basketball quadruple header against neighboring Central Bucks West.
“The essence of the event is that it draws together the entire community,” CB South Principal Scott Davidheiser said. “The students have probably had some kind of connection to a victim of cancer, a survivor of cancer, and it’s nice to be able to pull together the stakeholders in the community, the kids here and also at West to really be able to showcase the wonderful things our kids not only learn but want to give back.
“The heart and essence of the evening is really giving back to something much, much larger than themselves – to learn about it but also to feel empowered to want to do something about it.”
A highlight of the evening is a food court that allows those in attendance – for a $5 donation – to enjoy everything from PF Chang’s famous lettuce wraps to pasta from Pizzeria Uno Chicago Grill. And that’s just the beginning.
Businesses that contributed to the event included – in addition to PF Chang’s and Pizzeria Uno – A Taste of Philadelphia, BJ’s Warehouse, Bucks-Mont Party Supply, Costco Warehouse, Darlene Schneider Catering, Dominick’s Pizza, Giuseppe’s Pizza (Richboro), Moe’s Southwest Grill, Party City, Pina’s Pizzeria, Red Lion Diner, T.G.I. Friday’s, Tomatoes and Wendy’s.
“The biggest thing about the event is how much it draws everyone together,” said junior class advisor Jamie Bainbridge, who helps coordinate the event. “It’s one of the few events where we have community vendors inside the building, and they have the opportunity to get their name out to our kids and parents.
“There a lot of parental support between the basketball team parents as well as other parents who get involved because they think it’s a great thing.”
The Titan Ambassadors, CB South’s student government leaders, take an active role in both the planning and carrying out of the event, and approximately 100 students volunteered their time to assist on Tuesday night.
“Their roles are anything from collecting money to selling raffle tickets to setting up everything,” Bainbridge said. “There are two students assigned to each of the outside vendors. They are responsible for making sure they have all the food and utensils they need.
“We have two shifts – the first work 2:30-5 and the second 5-7:30.”
The evening culminated with the boys and girls varsity basketball squads playing to a full house, but this night is about much more than basketball.
“I think if you asked almost to a person why they’re there that evening – I don’t think anyone would say the basketball games,” Davidheiser said. “They’re there because of the event. They’re there to give back to the community and the cause and support one another. That’s really what it’s about.”
CB South once again partnered with Doylestown Hospital to host an event that not only raises money to fight the deadly disease but also promotes cancer awareness.
“It incorporates a lot of different parts of the school,” Bainbridge said. “You have the athletics working together with your student government with staff and parents as well as the community. It just kind of brings everybody together.”
In addition to Bainbridge, senior co-advisors Beth Mattern and Jennifer Atkiss and sophomore advisor Will Melvin as well as basketball coaches Mattern and Jason Campbell provide leadership, but it’s the students who make it happen that night.
“The students came out on the eve of finals, and from the moment school was out, they’re working,” Davidheiser said. “They just have a good feeling about this event, and it’s something they really look forward to.”
This year’s event raised approximately $6,000 with all proceeds to be donated to the American Cancer Society and Doylestown Hospital’s Bridge Fund.
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