SALEM, ORE. -- The Hoopsters for Haiti fundraiser sponsored by the Willamette University basketball teams collected donations totaling $1,318 during home games for the Bearcats against Pacific Lutheran University on Friday, Jan. 22. The fundraiser was organized by Willamette men's basketball players Cameron Mitchell (Sr., Post, Portland, OR/Grant HS/Univ. of Redlands) and Bubba Lemon (Jr., Wing, McMinnville, OR/Tualatin HS/Linfield College).
Donations to support earthquake relief were received throughout the Willamette men's and women's basketball games on Friday. A portion of ticket sales were contributed to the relief effort and additional donations were made through a halftime basketball shooting contest.
Funds also were provided through a coin drive by the Willamette Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Additional donations associated with the coin drive are expected soon.
The donations received from the Hoopsters for Haiti fundraiser will be added to the overall Willamette Haitian Relief Fund. Willamette will distribute all of the donations to well-established non-profit organizations assisting with humanitarian relief efforts in the region.
Individuals participating in the fundraiser to help the people of Haiti were following Willamette's motto: "Not unto ourselves alone are we born."
Cameron Mitchell (left) and WU softball player Alex Watilo show one of the cups from the SAAC coin drive. Hoopsters for Haiti raised $1,318 in donations.
Adding to a donations jar was one way to contribute to Hoopsters for Haiti.
