BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- On Saturday, February 10, 2024, the Moravian University women’s basketball team will host its annual Play4Kay Cancer Awareness Day. The Greyhounds host Lycoming College in a Landmark Conference contest. The game is scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m. after the annual Alumni Game at 11:00 a.m. in Johnston Hall at Moravian University.
“The Play4Kay game—combined with our annual alumni game—is the feature game on regular season schedule,” commented Head Coach Mary Beth Spirk. “So many of our past and current players and coaches have a deep personal commitment to this cause. Yes, we are proud to lead all NCAA Division III teams in Play 4Kay fundraising but more important for everyone associated with our program is knowing that we are doing our part to help fund research to end this devastating disease. Our Play4Kay fundraising has become an integral part of the spring semester activities throughout Moravian University and we want to thank everyone at the University for helping us make a difference to others.”
For the past 15 years, the Moravian University women's basketball team has been the top leader of the NCAA Division III Kay Yow Cancer Fund Play4Kay Contest. The Hounds raised over $18,012 in 2023 and are looking to surpass that this year with the generosity of their fans and have a list of upcoming events that are taking place.
In addition to collecting donations at the game versus Lycoming, Moravian spends the entire week with efforts for Play4Kay. The week kicks off with a Play4Kay Clinic in Johnston Hall, on Friday, February 2, and Pink Office Week as Moravian faculty and staff members are encouraged to wear jeans and pink all week and asked to make a $5 donation for each day they wear pink. The women’s basketball team will also be selling t-shirts in the Sally all week. The week concludes with the Pink Zone Clinic in Springfield, New Jersey on Sunday, February 11. The Hounds hosted a clinic for Southern Lehigh Youth Basketball in December with proceeds going to Play4Kay.
Registration for the Greyhounds Play4Kay Clinic in Johnston Hall on Friday, February 2 is at https://www.moraviansports.com/information/tickets and accept donations for Play4Kay at the clinic.
Alumni Game Participants - All returning players should register at https://www.moraviansports.com/information/tickets for the game only if you are attending. Click Get Tickets on the Alumni Event at the Steel Club and select the Alumni Game Participant.
Saturday, February 10 festivities will include Moravian’s annual Alumni game and a reception at the Steel Club after the game. The deadline to register for the post-game event is February 5 at https://www.moraviansports.com/information/tickets.
The contest is an effort to reward participating teams in the Play4Kay who are also raising funds for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund®, in partnership with the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) and The V Foundation for Cancer Research. Last winter, Moravian raised 18,012, the top amount from an NCAA Division III school, to give the program a total of $216,088 donated to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund over the last 15 years. The Greyhounds raised $18,052 in 2022, $6,683 in 2021 in a week limited by COVID, $19,053 in 2020, $19,480 in 2019, $19,657 during 2018 and $21,662 in 2017, and the most raised by the Hounds in a single year. Moravian was also the top NCAA Division III team in 2016 with $18,520, in 2015 with $17,038, in 2014 with $12,573, in 2013 with $16,210, in 2012 with $12,025, in 2011 with $5,825, in 2010 at $6,100 and a first-year total of $5,200 in 2009.
In recognition of its on-going work with Play4Kay, Moravian received National Association of Division III Athletic Administrators/Jostens Community Service Award for on-going projects at the 2015 NCAA Convention and received an honorable mention at the 2017 NCAA Convention.
Make a donation online to Moravian's 2024 Play4Kay page - visit Moravian WBB Play4Kay
Schedule of events for 2024 Play4Kay at Moravian University
- Friday, February 2 - Play4Kay Clinic in Johnston Hall, 6:03 p.m. - register at https://www.moraviansports.com/information/tickets
- Monday-Friday, February 5-9 - Pink Office Week
- Monday-Friday, February 5-9 - T-Shirt Sales in the SALLY from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. - Short Sleeve is $15 and Long Sleeve is $20 for new design (picture at right) and $5 for short sleeve and $10 for long sleeve in older shirts
- Saturday, February 10 – Play4Kay Day versus Lycoming College along with Alumni Game, 11:00 a.m. in Johnston Hall Alumni Game Participant Registration - https://www.moraviansports.com/information/tickets - Deadline to register is February 5 - Click Get Tickets on the Alumni Event at the Steel Club and select the Alumni Game Participant.
- Saturday, February 10 - Alumni, Family & Friends Reception at The Steel Club, 4:30 p.m. – Register at https://www.moraviansports.com/information/tickets - Deadline to register is February 5.
- Sunday, February 11 - Pink Zone Clinic in Springfield, N.J.
- Online donations can be made at Moravian WBB Play4Kay
About the Kay Yow Cancer Fund and Play4Kay Campaign
The Kay Yow Cancer Fund was officially founded on Dec. 3, 2007, from the vision of the organization's namesake Kay Yow, former N.C. State University head women's basketball coach. Coach Yow was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987 before succumbing to the disease on Jan. 24, 2009. The Kay Yow Cancer Fund is a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization committed to being a part of finding an answer in the fight against women's cancers through raising funds for scientific research, assisting the underserved, and unifying people for a common cause. To date, more than $8.28 million has been allocated for women's cancer research. For more information on the Kay Yow Cancer Fund or to make a donation, please visit www.kayyow.com. Follow the Kay Yow Cancer Fund on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.
