Three individuals honored for their impact on the fight against cancer
University at Albany coach Will Brown, Knoxville Community High School (Iowa) coach Jim Uitermarkt, and former NCAA official and NBA executive Ron Foxcroft are the winners of this year’s Champion Award, a prestigious national honor from the Coaches vs. Cancer program.
The Champion Award – instituted in 1996 – honors coaches who have shown extraordinary leadership and commitment to the American Cancer Society’s mission of saving lives, celebrating lives, and fighting cancer from every angle.
“The Champion Award recognizes special individuals who have joined us in the fight against cancer,” said Gary Reedy, chief executive officer. “Coach Brown, Coach Uitermarkt and Mr. Foxcroft are tremendous leaders who have rallied their supporters and communities to raise funds and awareness in support of the American Cancer Society’s mission to defeat cancer. We are in awe of their dedication and grateful for their unending support.”
These are extraordinary individuals; let’s learn more about each one:
Coach Will Brown has been a leader in the fight against cancer for 15 years – since the inception of Albany’s Coaches vs. Cancer Basket “Ball”. As a co-host of this event he – along with his wife Jamie – actively helps with planning, promoting, and supporting the fundraising efforts of this event. Since its inception, the ball has raised more than $2 million for the American Cancer Society. Recently, Coach Brown created a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society with a goal to raise $100,000.
In 2009, Coach Jim Uitermarkt and Knoxville High School had its very first Coaches vs. Cancer game and raised more than $4,200. Eleven years later their fundraising total is now more than $605,000. Through the work of Coach Uitermarkt, the Knoxville community comes together every year to raise money for ACS through donation drives, a 24-hour run, and silent auctions for the Coaches vs. Cancer platform.
For decades, former NCAA and NBA official and executive Ron Foxcroft has supported Officials vs. Cancer through the pink whistle program. As the official supplier of the Fox 40 pink whistles, Foxcroft has been instrumental in the success of the program, which has generated nearly $2.5 million since the program began.
Coaches vs. Cancer is a collaboration between ACS and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) that empowers coaches, their teams, and communities to join in saving more lives. The program leverages the personal experiences, community leadership, and professional excellence of basketball coaches nationwide to increase cancer awareness and promote healthy living through year-round awareness efforts, fundraising activities, and advocacy programs.
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