{"id":1929,"date":"2011-05-18T16:17:13","date_gmt":"2011-05-18T20:17:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/davidsonarchivesandspecialcollections.org\/archives\/?p=1929"},"modified":"2011-05-18T16:17:13","modified_gmt":"2011-05-18T20:17:13","slug":"womens-athletics-service","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/davidsonarchivesandspecialcollections.org\/archives\/encyclopedia\/womens-athletics-service","title":{"rendered":"Women’s Athletics and Service"},"content":{"rendered":"

Community service has always been an important part of the women\u2019s athletic program at Davidson, but recently, two teams have increased their service by becoming involved in the fight against breast cancer.\u00a0 In 2007, the Women\u2019s Basketball Coaches Association introduced Think Pink \u2013 a national fundraising effort held to raise breast cancer awareness.\u00a0 Kay Yow, North Carolina State University coach, initiated the event after suffering from breast cancer herself and losing her mother to the disease (WBCA Pink Zone History).
\nFor Davidson coach at the time, Annette Watts (2001-2010), the decision to participate in Think Pink was easy.\u00a0 \u201cI coached with Coach Yow at NC State, and I played for her little sister, Susan Yow, at East Tennessee State University,\u201d said Watts.\u00a0 \u201cIt was while I was in college playing for the younger Yow that I witnessed the Yow family lose their mother to breast cancer.\u00a0 At that time, the idea formed in Kay\u2019s mind to find a fund raising initiative for research into the disease that took her mom.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Women's<\/a>
The 2008 women\u2019s basketball\u2019s Think Pink Promotional Poster.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Davidson held its first Think Pink game on February, 15, 2008, against UNC Greensboro.\u00a0 The coaching staff wore pink suits and the players wore pink shoelaces and pink ribbons in their hair.\u00a0 Pink balloons were hung throughout Belk Arena, and breast cancer survivors were honored at halftime.\u00a0 Additionally, Think Pink t-shirts were sold, and all food sales proceeds during the game went to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.\u00a0 At the beginning of the 2008-09 season, the WBCA decided to change the name of the fundraiser from Think Pink to Pink Zone, and Davidson once again decided to participate in the event.\u00a0\u00a0 The 2009 Pink Zone game, held on February 14 against Chattanooga, was extremely personal for Coach Watts because Kay Yow succumbed to her fight with breast cancer on January, 24, 2009. The Pink Zone has become an annual event for the Davidson women\u2019s basketball team and will continue to be an important part of their schedule in the future.<\/p>\n

Following women\u2019s basketball\u2019s lead, in the fall of 2008 Davidson volleyball joined the fight against breast cancer by participating in the national fundraiser Dig for the Cure.\u00a0 Once again, Davidson had a strong connection to the event because Lisa Marston, head Davidson volleyball coach from 1995-99, initiated the cause in 2003 while she was coaching at UNC Charlotte.\u00a0 Marston started the program for personal reasons because her mother was a breast cancer survivor.\u00a0 She also wanted to provide student athletes with an opportunity to give back to their community.\u00a0 \u201cAthletes are continuously highlighted for bad decisions,\u201d said Marston.\u00a0 \u201cIt is about time the public sees the good that athletes do so much of\u201d (USF Volleyball Dig for the Cure).<\/p>\n

\"Women's<\/a>
Jennifer Chamblee \u201911 and her mother and breast cancer survivor Susan Chamblee.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Similarly to the Pink Zone, Dig for the Cure is a regular season game that is donated to raising breast cancer awareness. Davidson volleyball quickly took to the cause, raising pledges per dig, accepting donations, selling t-shirts, and organizing a silent auction that would take place at half-time.\u00a0 All proceeds from the event would benefit the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation.\u00a0 Jennifer Chamblee \u201911, was particularly passionate about the event because her mother was a breast cancer survivor. \u201cI support \u2018Dig for the Cure\u2019 because I want to help raise funds for an organization whose mission is to find a cure to prevent women from experiencing the same struggles my mother experienced during her life-threatening battle,\u201d said Chamblee, in a personal testament she wrote for Davidson\u2019s Athletic website.\u00a0 (Insert Photo 2) The team came through for Jennifer and the cause by leading the Southern Conference in fund raising by raising $5,400 during the November 7th game against the College of Charleston (Volleyball Raises over $5,000).<\/p>\n

\"Women's<\/a>
Davidson\u2019s women\u2019s volleyball team at the 2009 Dig Pink promotional game.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In 2009, the Southern Conference decided to sponsor the Dig Pink campaign benefitting the Side-Out Foundation<\/a>, and Davidson followed suit.\u00a0 The first Dig Pink game was held on October, 23, against Western Carolina, and Davidson upheld their reputation in the Southern Conference by once again raising the most money, a strong $4,210 (Davidson Raises SoCon Best).\u00a0 The 2010 Dig Pink game was also a huge success as an overwhelming number of Davidson friends, fans, and family turned out to show their support and raise money for a good cause.\u00a0 \u201cDig Pink is a special event for us because it allowed our team to become united and get excited for an event outside of volleyball,\u201d said Anna Bradbury \u201911, who was team representative for the event in 2009 and 2010.\u00a0 \u201cBecause of Jennifer\u2019s mom and because we did well raising money each year we took a great sense of pride in the event.\u201d<\/p>\n

The success of Dig Pink and the Pink Zone has inspired other women\u2019s athletic teams at Davidson to become involved with community service.\u00a0 In the 2010 season, the Davidson\u2019s women\u2019s field hockey team introduced the Stick It to Cancer game, raising money for the National Foundation for Cancer Research.\u00a0 Additionally, the women\u2019s lacrosse and women\u2019s soccer teams have participated in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.\u00a0 Women\u2019s and men\u2019s athletic teams at Davidson and across the nation will look to build on the momentum of this kind of success and continue the connection between athletics and community service in the future.<\/p>\n

Works Cited:<\/h3>\n

\u201cWBCA Pink Zone History.\u201d Women\u2019s Basketball Coaches Association. WBCA National\u00a0\u00a0 Headquaters.\u00a0 Web. 4 April 2011. <www.wbca.org>.<\/p>\n

Watts, Annette. Personal Interview. 5 April 2011.<\/p>\n

Morris, Sam. \u201cDavidson Hosts \u2018Think Pink\u2019 for Breast Cancer Awareness day.\u201d Davidson Athletics. Davidson College. 05 Feb. 2008. Web. 4 Apr. 2011.<\/p>\n

McFarlin, Gavin. \u201cWomen\u2019s Basketball to Host WBCA Pink Zone Day.\u201d Davidson Athletics. Davidson College. 09 Feb. 2009.\u00a0 Web. 3 Mar. 2011.<\/p>\n

McFarlin, Gavin. \u201c\u2019Cats Start Final Three-Game Homestand vs. CofC on Saturday.\u201d Davidson Athletics. Davidson College. 18 Feb. 2010. Web. 6 Apr. 2011.<\/p>\n

Carter, Andy. \u201cDavidson Women\u2019s Basketball to Host WBCA PinkZone Day.\u201d Davidson Athletics. Davidson College. 31 Jan. 2011. Web. 23 Mar. 2011.<\/p>\n

McFarlin, Gavin. \u201cDavidson Welcomes Western Carolina to Belk Arena on Saturday for PinkZone Game.\u201d Davidson Athletics. Davidson College. 3 Feb. 2011. Web. 23 Mar. 2011.<\/p>\n

Blackwell, Jennifer. \u201cSoCon Volleyball Teams to Participate in Dig Pink.\u201d Southern Conference Volleyball. Southern Conference Athletics. 29 Oct. 2009. Web. 6 Apr. 2011.<\/p>\n

Chamblee, Jennifer.\u00a0 Personal Interview. 31 Mar. 2011.<\/p>\n

Bradbury, Anna. Personal Interview. 31. Mar. 2011.<\/p>\n

Biggers, Lauren. \u201cWildcats to Host Dig for the Cure, Nov. 7.\u201d Davidson Athletics. Davidson College. 29 Oct. 2008. Web. 6 Apr. 2011.<\/p>\n

Biggers, Lauren. \u201cWildcats Host Pair of SoCon Matches, Participate in Dig for the Cure Friday.\u201d Davidson Athletics. Davidson College. 6 Nov. 2008. Web. 6 Apr. 2011.<\/p>\n

Chamblee, Jennifer. \u201cFor Chamblees, Dig for the Cure is Personal.\u201d Davidson Athletics. Davidson College. 6 Nov. 2008. Web. 6 Apr. 2011.<\/p>\n

Biggers, Lauren. \u201cVolleyball Rasies over $5,000 in Dig for the Cure for Susan G. Komen Foundation.\u201d Davidson Athletics. Davidson College. 8 Dec. 2008. Web. 23 Mar. 2011.<\/p>\n

Biggers, Lauren. \u201cWildcats to Host Dig Pink Against Western Carolina Friday Night.\u201d Davidson Athletics. Davidson College. 19 Oct. 2009. Web. 6 Apr. 2011.<\/p>\n

Biggers, Lauren. \u201cSilent Auction at Tonight\u2019s Dig Pink Event as Volleyball Hosts Western Carolina.\u201d Davidson Athletics. Davidson College. 21 Oct. 2009. Web. 6 Apr. 2011.<\/p>\n

Biggers, Lauren. \u201cDavidson Raises SoCon-Best $4,210 for Side-Out Foundation.\u201d Davidson Athletics. Davidson College. 24 Oct. 2009. Web. 23 Mar. 2011.<\/p>\n

Biggers, Lauren. \u201cVolleyball Hosts Furman Saturday in Dig Pink Event, Wofford Sunday.\u201d Davidson Athletics. Davidson College. 27 Oct. 2010. Web. 6 Apr. 2011.<\/p>\n

\u201cDig for the Cure.\u201d USF Volleyball. Oct. 2008. Web. 6 Apr. 2011.<\/p>\n

Brumbaugh, Mark. \u201cWildcats Supporting \u2018Stick it to Cancer,\u2019 Hosting Longwood Saturday. Davidson Athletics. Davidson College. 30 Sept. 2011. Web. 23 Mar. 2011.<\/p>\n

Author: Courtney Tobe<\/p>\n

Date: 21 April 2011<\/p>\n

Cite as: Tobe, Courtney. “Women’s Athletics and Service,” Davidson Encyclopedia<\/em>, 21 April 2011 <http:\/\/davidsonarchivesandspecialcollections.org\/archives\/uncategorized\/womens-athletics-and-service><\/p>\n

Related Entries: Athletics and Community Service<\/a>, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Student-Athlete Advisory Council<\/a>, Men’s Basketball and Service<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Community service has always been an important part of the women\u2019s athletic program at Davidson, but recently, two teams have increased their service by becoming involved in the fight against breast cancer.\u00a0 In 2007, the Women\u2019s Basketball Coaches Association introduced Think Pink \u2013 a national fundraising effort held to raise breast cancer awareness.\u00a0 Kay Yow, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":49,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15,5],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/davidsonarchivesandspecialcollections.org\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1929"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/davidsonarchivesandspecialcollections.org\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/davidsonarchivesandspecialcollections.org\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/davidsonarchivesandspecialcollections.org\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/49"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/davidsonarchivesandspecialcollections.org\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1929"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/davidsonarchivesandspecialcollections.org\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1929\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/davidsonarchivesandspecialcollections.org\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1929"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/davidsonarchivesandspecialcollections.org\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1929"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/davidsonarchivesandspecialcollections.org\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1929"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}