Coaches vs. Cancer High School Toolkit
Get in the game.
It’s us against cancer
and we’re in it to win!
Fight cancer with a winning team!
Look inside to find these resources to help you put together your game plan:
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About the Coaches vs. Cancer program: Working together to make a difference
Teamwork Makes the Difference: Coaches lead the way for teams to rally
Funding the Fight: Ideas to make it fun and easy
Share the Fun: Join with partners in your school and across the nation
Market the Mission: Let supporters know it’s for a good cause
About the Coaches vs. Cancer program
Working together to make a difference
Coaches vs. Cancer mission
Our mission is to increase cancer awareness and promote
healthy living among students, faculty, school staff, fans,
and the community through year-round fundraising
activities and advocacy programs.
Who we are and what we do
Cancer has touched so many of our lives. The
Coaches vs. Cancer program offers athletic teams
a unique opportunity to fight back against the
disease.
The Coaches vs. Cancer initiative is a program founded by
the American Cancer Society and the National Association
of Basketball Coaches (NABC) that empowers coaches,
their teams, and communities to make a difference in the
fight against cancer by participating in a variety of national
and local events.
Participating coaches are truly making a difference in the
fight against cancer and raising awareness in their
communities about the importance of cancer prevention
and early detection and of making healthy lifestyle
choices.
Since its inception in 1993, the Coaches vs. Cancer
program has raised more than $85 million to support the
American Cancer Society’s work to save lives from
cancer.
Background
Norm Stewart, former head men’s basketball coach at
the University of Missouri, member of the National
Association of Basketball Coaches, and cancer survivor,
had an idea: He challenged fans to pledge a dollar to the
American Cancer Society for every three-point shot
made by his team during the season.
In 1993, his concept evolved into the Coaches vs.
Cancer program, an effort uniting coaches, players,
and communities across the nation . More than
3,000 high schools and college coaches participate in
Coaches vs. Cancer events each year.
“As players, coaches and fans, we are all on the
same team when it comes to the fight against cancer.
When cancer is defeated, this will be the biggest win
that we will all share.”
–Norm Stewart, Coaches vs. Cancer founder
About the American Cancer Society
Together with our millions of supporters, the American
Cancer Society saves lives and creates a world with less
cancer and more birthdays by helping people stay well,
helping them get well, finding cures, and fighting back
against cancer.
• Every sport can participate!
• We want to bring the Coaches vs.
Cancer program to your school.
• We have ideas, resources, and support
for your event to make it fun and easy.
• 100 percent of the funds raised will
support the lifesaving mission of the
American Cancer Society.
Teamwork Makes the Difference
Coaches lead the way for teams to rally
The coach is the key player
As a coach, you serve as a community leader and a role
model. The Coaches vs. Cancer program presents an
excellent opportunity to enhance your school’s
community relations and create a positive image for the
coaching staff, your athletic program, and your school.
Planning and staging a successful event
• Get started by logging onto coachesvscancer.org and
clicking on your state. Under “Get Involved” click
“Start a Team.” From the Web site, find us on
Facebook!
• Share your personal
commitment to the
American Cancer Society’s
fight against cancer with the
school’s athletic department
and coaching staff.
• Designate a student or
parent as a team leader
who can engage others
such as the student council
or business class
students to help promote and raise funds for the
American Cancer Society through the Coaches vs.
Cancer program.
• Communicate to fans, supporters, and the student
body that your team is committed to supporting the
American Cancer Society through the Coaches vs.
Cancer program.
• Challenge and encourage junior varsity teams and
opposing teams to participate in Coaches vs. Cancer
events.
• Promote the Coaches vs. Cancer program in all
opportunities, including campus newsletters; local
newspapers, television, and radio; at league meetings;
and over the public address system at school and
during events.
Read about these successful
Coaches vs. Cancer events
Stillwater High School(Minnesota) – 2,188 students
Coach Deb VanKlei encouraged team members to get
involved with pledge packets and a commitment to
raise $100 each. All the players got busy asking for
donations for the American Cancer Society, and many
sought support from local businesses. The team also
sold special Coaches vs. Cancer t-shirts to show their
fighting spirit. Overall they raised more than $7,300.
Getting the youth involved with the community was a
big part of the program’s success
Knoxville High School (Iowa) – 640 students
The Knoxville High School Panthers, led by Coach Jim
Uitermarkt and his wife, Angie, found ways for the
entire community to participate. Preparations began
early with team and community members soliciting
items for a silent auction, selling die-cut cards for the
Wall of Hope, and arranging a barbeque dinner for the
big day. An alumni basketball event kicked off the
afternoon. At the later game, teams and fans honored
two special cancer survivors. The end result – nearly
$25,000 raised to help the American Cancer Society.
Arrowhead High School (Wisconsin) – 2,234 students
The Warhawks were not only defending their state
basketball championship against Waukesha West on
February 10, 2011. They were also defending loved
ones against cancer, as Coach Craig Haase and his team
promoted cancer awareness throughout the entire
county with the Coaches vs. Cancer program. The
Arrowhead Key Club helped “white-out” the gym by
selling white T-shirts and holding a rock-paper-scissors
contest leading up to the designated CvC game night.
The event itself featured a shoot-a-thon just before the
game. Together they raised more than $6,500 to help
create a world with less cancer and more birthdays.
Funding the Fight
Ideas to make it fun and easy
Maximize your fundraising for the Coaches vs. Cancer program with these tried-andtrue ideas.
• Pass the bucket during halftime, and announce that
you are raising money for the American Cancer Society.
Set time on the
scoreboard for a
“Miracle Minute,”
then have the JV team
or cheerleaders race
through the
bleachers collecting
donations.
• Make halftime
more fun by
inviting the crowd
to get involved
with an airplane
toss, a dance-off or some other fun contest to test
their skills.
• Compete for spare change between homerooms or
classes. Offer a prize for the winners.
• Create a Wall of Hope using paper donation cards –
available from the American Cancer Society – to post in
your gym or school lobby. For a donation, students,
teachers, and fans sign them in honor or memory of
friends and loved ones who have battled cancer.
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Collect
donations Each player collects donations from family,
friends, neighbors, and local businesses. Collect
donations per point scored made at one game or
throughout the season.
• Ask for sponsorship from local businesses. When
you share your reasons for participating in the
Coaches vs. Cancer program, many will be happy to
support you. They could make a donation outright,
or agree to match the funds your school raises. Be
sure to recognize your sponsors during the game.
• Ask a group to host a meal or have a bake sale.
School groups or local organizations can provide
chili or tacos at halftime, or provide a table with
baked items available for donations.
• Plan special games or a tournament and donate
registration fees and proceeds. The ideas are
endless – alumni, student-faculty, powder puff
games. Or get the younger players in your
community together for a camp or tournament, or
even have them play an exhibition game during
your half-time. This will bring more people to your
event and encourage the younger players to get
involved in the fight against cancer!
• Photo Contest. Ask each player to bring a baby
photo of himself or herself. Ask for a donation to
make a guess. The winner gets a donated prize.
Share the Fun
Join with partners in your school and across the nation
Invite others to get involved
Local sponsors
Local businesses and organizations might want to
sponsor your Coaches vs. Cancer event or t-shirts, or
they might want to match the funds your school
raises. Just ask! You will be amazed at your
community’s support!
School rivalry
Team up with a rival school and hold a fundraising
competition in the weeks leading up your Coaches vs.
Cancer rivalry game. Announce fundraising totals and
the winning school at the game.
Cheer and dance teams
Getting your cheer and dance teams involved will help
get the crowd involved in your game. They are a great
added resource to help pass the bucket or run
fundraisers while your team is playing.
Other school and community groups
Parent-teacher organizations, student councils, service
clubs such as the Jaycees, Sertoma, Rotary and
Kiwanis, National Honor Society, parents, alumni,
teachers, school board. Everyone can be involved and
support the cause by fundraising and publicizing your
event.
Conference-wide involvement
Work with two or more schools and coaches in your
conference to each designate one game of a home
series for Coaches vs. Cancer.
Survivor Engagement
Work with your schools to honor and engage survivors
and their caregivers at a game. During halftime, invite
attending survivors and caregivers on to the field or
court for a round of applause and words of
celebration.
Every activity and communication should include
information about available resources and services,
upcoming programs and events, and ways they can get
involved.
Football Teams – A Crucial Catch
The National Football League, its teams, players, and the
NFL Players Association are proud to support the fight
against breast cancer. Their campaign, "A Crucial Catch,"
in partnership with the American Cancer Society, focuses
on the importance of annual screenings, especially for
women 40 and older. Throughout October, NFL games
feature players, coaches, and referees wearing pink game
apparel, on-field pink ribbon stencils, special game balls
and pink coins - all to help raise awareness for this
important campaign. All apparel worn at games by
players and coaches, along with special game balls and
pink coins is then auctioned off at NFL Auction
(www.NFL.com/auction), with proceeds benefiting the
American Cancer Society and team charities.
Teams can participate anytime throughout the season by
adding pink items to their uniforms and planning a
Coaches vs. Cancer event. The game can be dedicated in
memory or in honor of someone from the school or
community who has been affected by breast cancer. For
more information, call Erika Gould at 207-373-3728.
Share the Fun
Join with partners in your school and across the nation
Basketball Teams – Suits and Sneakers
During the last week in January, college basketball
coaches nationwide raise awareness and funds to
fight cancer by wearing sneakers with game attire
and asking other staff to do the same.
By wearing sneakers during their games throughout
this awareness weekend, coaches and their staff call
attention to how healthy lifestyle choices – including
getting regular exercise and eating a healthy diet –
can help reduce the risk of cancer.
High school teams can participate anytime throughout
the season by having the coaching staff wear sneakers
and planning a Coaches vs. Cancer event. Your special
game night is also an opportunity to honor or remember
someone from the school or community who has been
touched by cancer.
To demonstrate their support, fans are encouraged to
wear basketball shoes to games on Suits and Sneakers
awareness weekend. Additionally, local businesses can
join the cancer fight by encouraging employees to
donate $5 or more to the American Cancer Society, in
exchange for wearing sneakers to work onone or more
designated days.
Market the Mission
Let supporters know it’s for a good cause
How your contributions fight cancer
Nutrition and physical activity
The American Cancer Society is saving lives every day. For
nearly a century, we have fought for every birthday
threatened by every cancer in every community. Thanks
to our supporters, nearly 14 million cancer survivors in
America will celebrate another birthday this year.
Achieve and maintain a healthy weight throughout life
• Avoid excess weight gain at all ages. For those who are
overweight or obese, losing even a small amount of
weight has health benefits and is a good place to start.
The American Cancer Society saves lives and creates more
birthdays by helping people stay well and get well, finding
cures, and fighting back.
The American Cancer Society helps:
People Stay Well by offering the tools necessary to
make healthy decisions and take steps to prevent
cancer or detect it early, when it’s most treatable.
People Get Well by being in their corner around the
clock, providing information to help make informed
decisions or offering free support services to help put
patients back on the road to recovery.
Find Cures by supporting the best ideas of the
brightest cancer researchers. As the largest
nongovernmental funder of cancer research in the
United States, the American Cancer Society has
invested more than $3.8 billion on cancer research
since 1946.
Fight Back by working with lawmakers to help make
this world a healthier place to live and rallying
communities around the globe to join the fight.
For more information about the American Cancer
Society, including local programs and services for
patients in your community, call 1-800-227-2345
or visit cancer.org.
Be physically active
• Adults: Get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity
or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity each week.
• Children and teens: Get at least 1 hour of moderate or
vigorous activity each day, with vigorous activity at
least 3 days each week.
Eat a healthy diet, with an emphasis on plant foods
• Choose foods and drinks in amounts that help you get
to and maintain a healthy weight.
• Limit how much processed meat and red meat you eat.
• Eat at least 2 ½ cups of vegetables and fruits each day.
• Choose whole grains instead of refined-grain products.
Promoting and branding the Coaches vs.
Cancer program
Promotion
Work with media outlets in your community to generate
“buzz” about the Coaches vs. Cancer program. Be sure to
let them know how funds raised help the American
Cancer Society help people stay well and get well, and to
find cures and fight back against cancer. Your Society staff
partner can provide ideas and template media materials
to help you get started.
Logo use
Coaches vs. Cancer® is a trademarked initiative. By using
this program and the logo, you are committing that 100
percent of the proceeds will be donated to the American
Cancer Society.
Logos must be used fully intact, as shown. The logos may
not be altered or manipulated in any way. For example,
any changes in color or dimension are unacceptable.
For basketball events, use the basketball logo (far left).
For non-basketball events, use either the generic logo
(left) or other sport-specific logos. Ask your Society staff
partner for assistance with the correct logos and format.
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Thank you for supporting the
American Cancer Society
Coaches vs.Cancer
program!
Opportunities for recognition
National Coaches vs. Cancer Council
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Jay Bilas, ESPN
Jim Boeheim, Syracuse University
Gary Bowne, Hickory Christian Academy
Mike Brey, University of Notre Dame
Jim Calhoun, University of Connecticut
Bobby Cremins, former College of Charleston
Ed DeChellis, United States Naval Academy
Ken Dennard, Dennard Rupp Gray & Easterly, LLC
Don Distasio, Executive Vice President & Eastern
Division Operating Office, American Cancer Society,
Inc.
Fran Dunphy, Temple University
Mark Few, Gonzaga University
Jeff Gamber, former York College
Lon Kruger, University of Oklahoma
Mike Krzyzewski, Duke University
• Phil Martelli, council chair, Saint Joseph's University
• Fran McCaffery, University of Iowa
• Reggie Minton, deputy executive director, National
Association of Basketball Coaches
• Garry Munson, Whitney Capital Company, LLC
• Michael Pizzo, WJB Capital Group, Inc.
• Oliver Purnell, DePaul University
• Donald Resnick, Acorn Development Corporation
• Bob Sansone, iTrust, LLC
• Jim Satalin, national director, Coaches vs. Cancer
• Orlando “Tubby” Smith, University of Minnesota
• Norm Stewart, former University of Missouri
• Bruce Weber, Kansas State University
• Gary Williams, former University of Maryland
• Roy Williams, University of North Carolina