What to know about Penn State women’s basketball’s annual Pink Zone game
The Bryce Jordan Center will be draped in pink once again on Sunday when the Lady Lions take on Northwestern at 2 p.m. for the annual Play4Kay game benefiting the Pennsylvania Pink Zone.
The Lady Lions will also compete in the annual Play4Kay Free Throw Challenge with women’s basketball programs across the country to raise money. Fans can donate for every free throw made by their teams or can contribute a one-time donation.
Sunday’s Play4Kay game will partner with the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, which honors the legacy of Kay Yow, who was a Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame selection in 2000 and died in January 2009 after a 22-year battle with breast cancer.
In a change from past years, Penn State will begin the ceremony at 11:30 a.m. in the Bryce Jordan Center’s South Gym. There, survivors who pre-registered will walk the pink carpet with friends and family members. PA Pink Zone Survivor T-shirts will be distributed to the survivors, who will also join an on-court halftime celebration.
Students who attend the game will receive specials including food or giveaways and their tickets are free to enter the game.
The Lady Lions and other Penn State teams will be available for photo opportunities and will participate in the pregame radio show. There will also be an in-person and an online charity auction at the game. The auction will include over 120 items to raise money for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, ending during the third quarter of the game.
If you can’t get to the game and still want to support the Pink Zone, you can head to the Penn State Berkey Creamery all month for “Pink Zone Strawberry,” the creamery’s temporarily renamed strawberry flavor. A portion of the sales of the flavor will go to the Pink Zone.
“Over the years, we have been fortunate to build these partnerships and strengthen the bonds across Penn State,” Jim Brown, creamery sales and marketing manager, said in a news release. “We are proud to help the Pink Zone achieve its goal to unite Central Pennsylvania in the fight against breast cancer. The creamery is honored and humbled to have such wonderful partners who support truly earnest causes.”
Since 2007, the Pink Zone has raised more than $3.2 million for the fight against breast cancer. For more information, visit www.papinkzone.org.
