On Feb. 16, the Seton Hall will be hosting its fifth annual Pink Zone game, matching up against the Golden Eagles of Marquette University.
In the days leading up to the game, and also during it, there will be a few different fundraisers taking place, with all of the money raised going towards the Kay Yow/Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Cancer Fund.
"The online auction will be launched sometime this week through the Pirate Blue website," Meg Tarrant, Graduate Assistant of the Women's Basketball Team, said. "Our more sought after prizes will be available on the online auction. An announcement of the auction is going to be sent out through Pirate Blue to all their e-mail contacts. This online auction will close the night before the game."
Some prizes included in the online auction will be: New Jersey Devils' Ilya Kovalchuk signed puck, two tickets to a New York Yankees game, New Jersey Nets autographed Devin Harris jersey, Golden State Warriors autographed Stephen Curry t-shirt and two tickets to see Wicked on Broadway from 77WABC Radio.
According to Tarrant, the past three Pink Zone events have generated the highest attendance for the season. All fans are encouraged to dress in pink, and a prize will be given for the "pinkest" dressed attendee.
In addition to the online auction that will take place in the days leading up to the game, there will also be a live auction and raffle during the game.
"We are going have a number of tables set up in the swim lobby of Walsh Gym," Tarrant said. "The live auction prizes will have a starting price and at the end of the game, the winners will be able to take their prize home."
She said the raffle is made up of non-auction items, and all of the items are placed into baskets, so participants essentially receive more than one prize.
"Winners will be drawn throughout the second half of the game," Tarrant said.
The prizes included in the live auction and raffle range from restaurant gift certificates to theme park passes to autographed memorabilia.
The entire event is to honor the life of Kay Yow, who is the former North Carolina State head coach who lost her battle to breast cancer in 2009. Yow has a connection to Seton Hall; she coached current Pirates head coach Anne Donovan in the 1988 Olympics.
It is also intended to offer hope and support to breast cancer survivors and those who may be battling the disease, along with raising awareness.
Over the past three years of running the event, the Pirates have raised over $10,000 to the cause. Overall the cause has raised about $3.3 million since 2007.
John Provenzano can be reached at john.provenzano@student.shu.edu.
