Community spring 2019
Leadership Institute hosts third annual charity event
For the third consecutive year, Binghamton’s Leadership Institute (Explore, Engage and B You – EEBU) held its “Night at the Races.” A community-wide fundraiser for charity, the event took place on Thursday night at the Events Center.
Groups from campus and the local community competed in stick horse races to raise money for charity. At the conclusion of the evening, over $600 was raised for local charities, including the Addiction Center for Broome County as well as the Center for Donation and Transplant in honor of Noah Farrelly – a Stony Brook track and cross country runner who died this past December.
A major tenant of EEBU, which is exemplified by “Night at the Races” is to reach beyond the athletic department. Members of EEBU are on board with that and recall it as one of their favorite part of the event.
“This is a great event,” senior men’s tennis player and EEBU member Ludovico Cestarollo said. “It’s a chance for us to come together with people from the community and raise money for good causes.”https://bubearcats.com/news/2019/2/8/general-a-night-at-the-races.aspx?path=general
Women’s basketball participates in national cancer fundraiser
First, the Bearcats will take part in the Play4Kay National Free Throw Challenge. All friends, family and fans of the Binghamton program can go online and pledge a donation to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund for every free throw the Bearcats make during the month of February.
All friends, family and friends interested in making a pledge should click here. The number of free throws made will be updated after every game.
On Saturday, Feb. 9, the Bearcats will hold their annual Play4Kay Game at 2 p.m. against New Hampshire. Head coach Bethann Shapiro Ord will donate $5.00 per point scored during that game to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. The Bearcats will also recognize all cancer survivors in attendance on the court, presenting them with a flower during halftime.
The Kay Yow Cancer Fund was started in 2007. It was named after head coach at North Carolina State, who passed away in 2009 after facing her third bout with breast cancer. Play4Kay is the most of the most visible fundraising aspects within the Kay Yow Cancer Fund
Find more information online about the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.
Women’s basketball coach featured for work in Nigeria
Kike Rafiu, the Director of Basketball Operations for the Binghamton women’s basketball teams has been featured on NCAA.com and by Spectrum News for her work in her native Nigeria.
In 2010, Rafiu founded Girls Rise Up Africa. A non-profit organization, it uses sports as a tool to facilitate girls’ development in Nigeria.
Rafiu arrived at Binghamton this summer after spending two years as a graduate assistant at Georgetown. During her undergraduate career, Rafiu was selected as one of only 11 current and former student-athletes to attend the 2016 United Nations Sports Summit.