By Harry Minium
Monarch Nation, you proved just how generous and caring you are in less than 60 seconds Saturday night.
When Old Dominion University cheerleaders and Dynasty Dance team members began to walk through the Chartway Arena crowd of 6,820 to collect donations to fight children's cancer, some of us hoped the crowd would ante up at least $1,000. It was called a Miracle Minute and it's a unique way to raise money that many charities have put to use at athletic events. But the time limit also limits how much you can raise.
ODU coach Jeff Jones and his wife Danielle only announced they were kicking off a Coaches vs. Cancer fundraiser a few weeks ago. Given the short notice to get the word out to fans, many of us chastened ourselves not to expect too much.
But Jeff and Danielle were blown away by the final number. ODU fans forked over nearly $7,500 in cash and checks.
Not all came during the Miracle Minute. Danielle circulated through the luxury suites during the second half with a plastic crate that said "Coaches vs. Cancer" on the front.
But most of the money came from $1, $10 and $20 donations made by fans who crammed cash into buckets held by by young ladies, who at times seemed overwhelmed by the response.
People passed money across the aisles and some sent their kids to chase after cheerleaders with a wad of cash in their hands. I saw fans furiously writing checks who also chased after cheerleaders. It was a heartening sight to see.
The crowd gave us a hint of what was to come when a 30-second video of Jeff Jones taped by assistant coach Chris Kovensky ran on the videoboard. When Jones asked fans to be generous, there was a short but widespread round of applause.
Combined with the $7,000 that has been raised online, ODU officials and fans have given $14,500. Jeff and Danielle will match that with a $10,000 donation. Do the math, and the event has raised $24,500. In less than three weeks.
Flanked by security guards, Danielle walked into the Carol Hudson press room following the game just after her husband spoke to the media. She was carrying the crate but struggling a bit because it contained a lot of cash.
Danielle and a team of volunteers counted the money following the game.
"I'm still in shock," Danielle said. "The ODU family is incredibly generous. Everyone involved in the counting was just in shock. We couldn't believe how much was raised."
This is the second event to help fight cancer that Jeff and Danielle have sponsored. When Jones went public with the news just before last season that his prostate cancer had returned, Jeff and Danielle began a fundraiser for Coaches vs. Cancer to provide housing for cancer patients who must go out of town.
ODU fans dug into their wallets then and generously donated $75,000.
"Altogether, we're about $100,000 for cancer in 18 months, which is awesome," she said.
Danielle knew this effort wouldn't be as successful as last season, but hopes that future efforts will surpass $75,000. The Coaches vs Cancer event held Saturday night will become an annual event, although the format will change. A basketball game will be involved but so will another event yet to be determined. One of the reasons for holding the event this year, beyond raising money for kids, was to raise awareness among corporations of the good this fundraiser will do.
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Every dime raised this season will go to help children suffering from cancer. Next year, the fundraiser will benefit another type of cancer.
Danielle isn't done yet this season, either. The campaign doesn't end until just before the Final Four, held in early March. You can still donate online.
"It will go higher," Danielle said. "A lot of people told me that they want to donate and haven't yet."
Some children treated or under treatment at the Children's Hospital of the Kings Daughters attended the game with their families. They cavorted with Big Blue during his birthday party during pre-game, during which they ate ice cream (sorry, no cake).
Cameras were directed on them and they stood and screamed with joy on the video board. Clearly, it was a good night for them, too.
"All money aside," Danielle said, "for those kids to have a special night like tonight would make anything we've done worth it."
Contact Minium: hminium@odu.edu
Minium: Monarch Nation, You Showed Extraordinary Generosity During Coaches vs. Cancer Fundraiser Saturday Night
