Press Release : Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund

ATLANTA - The late Kay Yow, former North Carolina State University head coach and namesake of the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund®, was honored on November 19, 2009, with the second annual Lapchick Character Award. This award is given to coaches who have shown the character traits and coaching skills of Hall of Famer Joe Lapchick, who coached St. John's and the New York Knicks.

"Kay had a special gift that she was able to enjoy her association with sport, and she used that to start her foundation that raises money for cancer research," said Marsha Sharp, executive director of the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund.

Yow was a past president and founding member of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), and a galvanizing voice for the Association.Yow was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987, and passed away on January 24, 2009, after facing her third bout with the disease.

Yow's legacy off the court is the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund, which was announced on December 3, 2007, during the Jimmy V Classic. The Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund, in partnership with The V Foundation for Cancer Research, raises money in the fight against women's cancers.

The Lapchick Character Award was started by Lapchick biographer Gus Alfieri, who played for Lapchick at St. John's. This year's other recipients were Georgetown's John Thompson and New York City high school coach Jack Curran.

About the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund
The Kay Yow/WBCA 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 money for scientific research, assisting the underserved and unifying people for a common cause. Donations can be made at www.JimmyV.org or by calling 1-800-4JimmyV. All donations are tax deductible.  For more information, visit www.wbca.org/kayyowwbcacancerfund.asp. 

About The V Foundation
The V Foundation is a charitable organization dedicated to saving lives by helping to find a cure for cancer. The Foundation seeks to make a difference by generating broad-based support for cancer research and by creating an urgent awareness among all Americans of the importance of the war against cancer. The V Foundation performs these dual roles through advocacy, education, fundraising and philanthropy.

About the WBCA
Founded in 1981, the WBCA promotes women’s basketball by unifying coaches at all levels to develop a reputable identity for the sport and to foster and promote the development of the game as a sport for women and girls.  For additional information about the WBCA, please visit wbca.org.