The 6th Annual State College Jimmy V Classic
Presented by MedExpress
Event Sponsors:
State College Boys Basketball Booster Club
A&W
Long John Silver's
T’s Custom Printing
DATE: 1/7/2012
LOCATION: State College Area High School North Gym
On Saturday, January 7, 2012, the State College Area School District 7th, 8th and 9th Grade Boys’ Basketball teams will participate in the Sixth Annual Jimmy V Classic to be held at the State College Area High School’s North Building starting at 10am. They will be competing against teams from Lower Dauphin and Hershey High Schools.
All proceeds from the game will be donated to the Jimmy “V” Foundation for cancer research. Donations can be made directly through the event website. Some noteworthy results from the past events are:
• Approximately 400 basketball players experienced the joy of playing in a great facility before a significantly sized crowd while providing a community service.
• Approximately $12,000 has been raised for cancer research.
• Approximately 1500 spectators participated in the fundraising effort while supporting the young players on the court.
Event Schedule:
10am: 7th grade Park Forest v. Mount Nittany
11am: 8th grade Park Forest v. Mount Nittany
Noon: Hershey v. State College Gray
1:30: Lower Dauphin v. State College Maroon
History of the Jimmy “V” Classic
My father had a great personality and I think many family and friends can all remember at least one funny story or comment which has had an impact on are lives. As I get older, I find myself more appreciative of what he did for me growing up. Whether it is all the time spent coaching my brothers and myself or the back and forth trips to Penn State football games, he never made it seem like a burden. That is one of the reasons I have enjoyed spending the time each year planning this special event. He seemed to truly enjoy everything that he did. He was a unique individual with a special gift for working with young people. There are times in my classroom that I find myself using a phrase he would say to my brothers or I and it makes me stop and laugh. It’s scary how much we turn into our parents.
Each December, I watch the NCAA Division I Jimmy V men’s basketball event. Every year they show Jim Valvano’s ESPY speech and it makes me remember my dad and all the time spent with him through sports. During that speech he stated that there are “three things we all should do every day. We should do this every day of our lives. Number one is laugh. You should laugh every day. Number two is think. You should spend some time in thought. Number three is, you should have your emotions moved to tears, could be happiness or joy.” These three emotions are present each year I plan for this event. It brings back numerous memories of time spent with my father and helps me remember all the life lessons he taught me. Sometimes the hard way! It allows for my family to get together to remember and celebrate my father’s life.
The V Foundation started with the dream of Jim Valvano, the passionate and committed former NC State basketball coach and award-winning broadcaster, as he battled cancer. Wanting to see the battle through to victory, Valvano recruited friends and family to lead The V Foundation in his quest to eradicate the disease that ultimately claimed his life. The late John Walsh lost a courageous battle with cancer on November 8, 2000. Just like Coach Valvano, I too have recruited friends and family to fight this deadly disease in my father’s memory. I have been humbled by all of the support each year from friends and family members. Through everyone’s generosity we have raised over $12,000 for cancer research!
This event has helped to promote a spirit of community involvement among the student athletes and helped them to see that they are playing for a cause more valuable then a win. In a sense I feel like by teaching these kids these life lessons, my father is still having an impact on young people. That is my real goal. It has never really been about the money being raised, it has always been about celebrating my dad’s life and keeping his spirit alive.
This event has given my family and myself the opportunity to have one more game with my father. In my eulogy at my father’s funeral, I said that one thing I never told my father enough was THANK YOU. This event has been my way to eternally thank my father for everything he has done for me.
“Cancer can take away all my physical abilities. It cannot touch my mind, it cannot touch my heart and it cannot touch my soul. And those three things are going to carry on forever.”
-Jim Valvano
Sincerely,
Ryan Walsh
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