ORLANDO, Fla. (CureBowl.com) – For the second-consecutive year, the Cure Bowl benefiting the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF), Sun Belt Conference and AutoNation are combining forces for the Coaches for a Cure initiative during the 2019 football season.
Each of the 10 Sun Belt football-playing institutions is ready to show support during Breast Cancer Awareness Month by its coaches and support staffs wearing pink shoelaces, armbands, wristbands and towels. Also during games throughout the month of October, each school is set to display a specially designed pink Sun Belt Kicks Cancer kicking net on its home sideline. The Cure Bowl has provided the pink accessories and kicking nets to all 10 institutions for the second-straight year.
This year’s initiative includes a fundraising element with AutoNation, America’s largest automotive retailer, generously offering to match 100 percent of the dollars generated by Sun Belt institutions in October, up to $100,000, as part of its DRV PNK Initiative.The money collected will go to BCRF in honor of Wendy Anderson, wife of Arkansas State football head coach Blake Anderson, who lost her two-year battle with cancer on Aug. 19.
Donations are now being accepted online at Give.BCRF.org/SunBelt.
In addition, the Sun Belt’s efforts in its Coaches for a Cure initiative will be recognized in a special on-field presentation during the Louisiana at Arkansas State football game on Thursday, Oct. 17 on ESPNU. This presentation will recognize the conference and its support of the Cure Bowl’s mission as well as honor Wendy Anderson and recognize Kerry Maggard, wife of Louisiana Director of Athletics Dr. Bryan Maggard, who has had her own battle with cancer.
“The Sun Belt Conference is proud to continue its work to end breast cancer,” said Sun Belt Commissioner Keith Gill. “We thank the Cure Bowl and AutoNation for joining with us in our commitment to make a difference in the fight against cancer.”
“The Cure Bowl, Sun Belt and AutoNation are all partners in bringing teams together to find a cure for cancer,” said Cure Bowl Executive Director Alan Gooch. “We are pleased to recognize Kerry and Wendy and their respective universities on October 17 as another opportunity to stay true to the Cure Bowl’s mission.”
“We are proud to offer this challenge match in Wendy’s honor,” said AutoNation Executive Vice President Marc Cannon. “Supporting cancer research is what drives us!”
About the Cure Bowl
The Cure Bowl is more than a game. It is a platform to raise awareness for cancer research and recognize those that are fighting cancer or have survived cancer.
Funds raised from the Cure Bowl directly benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF). Since 2015, the bowl has raised a collective $3.6 million dollars to benefit breast cancer research.
The 2019 Cure Bowl benefitting BCRF, pitting teams from the Sun Belt Conference and the American Athletic Conference, is set for Saturday, Dec. 21 at Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Fla. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. CT/2:30 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network.
To learn more, visit CureBowl.com.
About the Breast Cancer Research Foundation
The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) is dedicated to being the end of breast cancer by advancing the world’s most promising research. Founded by Evelyn H. Lauder in 1993, BCRF-funded investigators have been deeply involved in every major breakthrough in breast cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment and survivorship. This year, BCRF will award $59.5 million to support the work of more than 275 scientists at leading medical and academic institutions across 15 countries, making BCRF the largest private funder of breast cancer research worldwide. BCRF is the highest rated breast cancer organization in the U.S.—the only one with an “A+” from CharityWatch and Charity Navigator’s highest rating of four stars.
To learn more, visit BCRF.org.
About AutoNation, Inc.
AutoNation, America’s largest automotive retailer, is transforming the automotive industry through its bold leadership, innovation, and comprehensive brand extensions. As of June 30, 2019, AutoNation owned and operated over 325 locations from coast to coast. AutoNation has sold over 12 million vehicles, the first automotive retailer to reach this milestone. AutoNation’s success is driven by a commitment to delivering a peerless experience through customer-focused sales and service processes. Launched in 2015, AutoNation’s Drive Pink initiative, which has raised over $20 million, is committed to drive out cancer, create awareness, and support critical research. AutoNation continues to be a proud supporter of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and other cancer-related charities.
Please visit Investors.Autonation.com, AutoNation.com, AutoNationDrive.com, Twitter.com/CEOCherylMiller, and Twitter.com/AutoNation, where AutoNation discloses additional information about the Company, its business, and its results of operations.
About the Sun Belt Conference
With each passing season, the Sun Belt Conference continues to challenge itself, and its competitors, in all aspects of intercollegiate athletics. Not content with being simply the youngest football conference in the Football Bowl Subdivision, the conference has shown that it can rise each and every season that comes along. And since the birth of the league as a FBS member in 2001, the Sun Belt has earned due respect in the FBS over the last several years by consistently beating teams from peer conferences, winning bowl games and upsetting Power Five teams.
Appalachian State, Arkansas State, Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Louisiana, ULM, South Alabama, Texas State and Troy give the league 10 football members. Little Rock and UTA compete as Sun Belt members in sports other than football.
To learn more, visit SunBeltSports.org.