Persons of the Week: Hoops event raises more than $1,300 to fight cancer

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Hoops for Hope, a fundraiser conducted by the Windber Area girls basketball team, was spearheaded by (from left) senior Maria Bonitz, assistant coach Christen Phillips and senior Bethanie Weaver. Todd Berkey

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March 14, 2010

By FRANK SOJAK The Tribune-Democrat Sun Mar 14, 2010, 10:55 PM EDT

The Windber Area High School girls basketball team has the bounce needed to battle more than one opponent at a time.

On Jan. 28, they faced the North Star High School girls basketball team on their own turf while raising money to help defeat a second opponent, cancer.

They may have lost the game against North Star but they won their fundraising effort, named Hoops for Hope, by collecting more than $1,300. The money will go toward fighting childhood cancers at Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh.

North Star was a big part of the fund-raiser by helping to sell T-shirts and supporting the event in other ways.

Spearheading the event was Kristen Phillips, an assistant coach for the Windber girls team and a 2005 graduate of the school; Bethanie Weaver, a senior and member of the team; and Maria Bonitz, a senior and photographer for the team.

The money was raised in honor of Will Walker of Somerset, the 12-year-old nephew of the team’s coach, Rich Price, and Ansley Stigers of Cairnbrook, Maria’s 8-month-old cousin.

Both children have leukemia.

Leukemia is cancer of the bone marrow and blood, according to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Phillips, a Windber resident, said because the disease has hit close to home in the two children, they decided to donate the money in their honor.

She said the team sold 150 T-shirts at $10 each to raise money and collected donations from people attending the game. The T-shirts, which read “Hoops for Hope,” were worn by members of each team during warm-ups.

They also operated a concession stand and sold baked goods to raise money, she said.

Parents of players joined the players in making baked goods and running the concession stand, Phillips said.

Coach Price and his assistant, Cory Pavlosky, along with Windber athletic director Joe Gironda and administrators at both Windber and North Star were a big help, she said.

“We thank all the people who supported the event,” Phillips said.

Maria said they got the fundraiser rolling in the art club at school.

With the help of art teacher, Kelly Robatin, students made and sold hundreds of dream catchers, a Native American craft made from wire, yarn, beads and feathers that are meant to catch pleasant dreams, to raise $400 for the event. She said dream catchers, which cost between $2 and $10 depending on size, are still available, with the proceeds also going to Children’s Hospital.

“I was overwhelmed to see how many people came out to support the event,” Maria said.

Bethanie said they heard stories from people who attended the game about family members having been affected by leukemia.

“They were thrilled that we were doing something to help,” said Bethanie, who helped to make dream catchers.

“We hope to make this an annual event,” she said.

For their efforts, Phillips, Maria and Bethanie are the Persons of the Week.

Price said he is proud of all three.

“These three young ladies were magnificent through this whole thing,” he said.

The three are compassionate people and, because of that character, will continue making a difference in the community, Price said.

Tribune-Democrat editors select a Person of the Week from nominations made by readers. To nominate someone, call 532-5058, 24 hours a day.

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