News Releases
Toy drive, pep rally to be held before IU-Kentucky game
December 5, 2005
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Thousands of Indiana University alumni and fans will dress in Santa Claus' colors for the IU-Kentucky men's basketball game on Saturday. At a pre-game pep rally, they can play Santa by donating toys to underprivileged children.
IU alumni and fans are encouraged to donate new, unwrapped toys to the “Toy Drive to the Hoop,” which will be held during an IU pep rally from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday at the Indiana Convention Center/RCA Dome, Sagamore Ballroom 1–3, 100 S. Capitol Ave., Indianapolis. Admission to the pep rally is $3 per person. The IU-Kentucky game is scheduled to begin at 3:45 p.m. in the RCA Dome.
Volunteers from the Central Indiana Chapter of the IU Alumni Association will take the donations to the Children's Bureau of Indianapolis, which will distribute the toys to children who otherwise would not receive toys this holiday season.
“The Toy Drive to the Hoop is the Central Indiana alumni chapter's largest single community service activity each year,” said Mark Skirvin, director of alumni chapters for the IU Alumni Association. “The chapter volunteers feel it is particularly important this year because it benefits the Children's Bureau, an organization that has a long history of helping at-risk children and families.”
For each donated toy, the donor's name will be entered in a drawing to win a basketball autographed by IU head coach Mike Davis.
Food and beverages will be available for purchase at the pep rally. Special guests will include the IU Pep Band, the IU cheerleaders, IU President Adam W. Herbert, IU Alumni Association President and CEO Ken Beckley, and IU Athletics Director Rick Greenspan. Attendees will be able to join the IUAA or renew their IUAA membership at half price.
The IU Alumni Association, the IU Varsity Club, and the Central Indiana Chapter of the IU Alumni Association are sponsoring the event.
The pep rally/toy drive is one of several IU basketball pre-game events this month.
Before IU's game at Indiana State University on Tuesday (Dec. 6), the IU Alumni Association is throwing a pre-game party for IU alumni and fans at the Ohio Building, 672 Ohio St., in Terre Haute. Parking will be available in the garage next door. The party will last from 4 to 6:45 p.m., and the game is scheduled to begin at 7:05 p.m.
The IU Alumni Association is also hosting pre-game events before the IU men's basketball games at Charlotte on Dec. 19 and against Butler on Dec. 23 at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. For game tickets, call 866-IUSPORTS or visit http://www.iuhoosiers.com.
The Indiana University Alumni Association serves the university and its more than 475,000 living graduates through programs, services, and communications. One of the nation's largest alumni organizations, the IUAA strives daily to connect alumni and serve IU. For more information, visit http://www.alumni.indiana.edu or call (800) 824-3044.