Posted on 1/31/2023
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – NBA nice Charles Barkley’s particular visitor look on the 2023 Bob Huggins Fish Fry was a slam dunk, scoring a document crowd and greater than $1.8 million to help the WVU Most cancers Institute and Bear in mind the Miners.
The Fish Fry, now in its 11th yr, recorded its first sellout following the announcement of Barkley’s look. An estimated 2,700 individuals attended the occasion Friday, Jan. 27, at Mylan Park’s Hazel and J.W. Ruby Neighborhood Heart to see Naismith Memorial Basketball Corridor of Fame members Barkley and Huggins share the stage.
(Photograph by Dale Sparks for the WVU Most cancers Institute.)
Barkley and Huggins swapped tales about life and basketball as attendees loved scrumptious meals, dwell and silent auctions, and extra. The Davisson Brothers Band and Lords of Lester offered dwell music, and Tony Caridi served as emcee.
Proceeds from the occasion, introduced by Little Common Shops, profit two causes near Huggins’ coronary heart – the Norma Mae Huggins Endowment on the WVU Most cancers Institute and the Bear in mind the Miners Flagship Students Program.
“To have the ability to share the evening with 2,700 individuals who share the identical ardour and combat that I do in supporting these two nice causes is superb,” Huggins mentioned. “It reveals the power of our state and its individuals. Charles’ willingness to hitch us actually put issues excessive, and I can’t thank him sufficient. It was a very particular evening.”
Huggins established the Norma Mae Huggins Endowment in 2003 to honor his mom, who handed away after a protracted battle with colon most cancers. Together with this yr’s Fish Fry contributions, the endowment has raised over $20 million to make a distinction within the lives of sufferers on the WVU Most cancers Institute.
“We’re grateful to Coach Huggins and his rising legion of Fish Fry supporters for his or her dedication and generosity,” Hannah Hazard-Jenkins, M.D., director of the WVU Most cancers Institute, Jean and Laurence DeLynn Chair of Oncology, and affiliate professor of surgical procedure on the WVU College of Medication, mentioned.
“I look ahead to the Fish Fry yearly as a result of it’s such an interesting alternative to deliver individuals collectively and replicate on how most cancers impacts us all. By sharing private tales and giving again, Coach Huggins and his visitors are serving to us promote higher well being in West Virginia and past via most cancers prevention, therapy, and analysis.”
Bear in mind the Miners is a nonprofit public consciousness marketing campaign dedicated to telling the story of America’s coal miners. Bear in mind the Miners honors miners via occasions, media, and its flagship Students Program, which helps college students at WVU’s Benjamin M. Statler School of Engineering and Mineral Sources. So far, the Fish Fry has raised about $300,000 in scholarship and basic help for the Division of Mining and Industrial Extension.
“The Mining Extension division on the Statler School has been very grateful for the help that has been given by the Bear in mind the Miners group,” Josh Brady, director of the Division of Mining and Industrial Extension, mentioned.
“Erik Muendel, RTM’s founder, has been an enormous advocate for our mine rescue groups, and the help from the Fish Fry has continued to develop annually, permitting us to take care of the best program requirements. We enormously respect Coach Huggins and Erik.”
The Fish Fry was made attainable because of dozens of sponsors, together with top-level sponsors Little Common Shops, Kenneth Mason, WVU Medication, Utilized Development Options, the Assaley Feck Harold Group at Morgan Stanley, Guard Unit LLC, the Hayhurst Household, Ike and Betty Sue Morris, and Joe and Lisa Subrick.
To help the Norma Mae Huggins Endowment and/or the WVU Most cancers Institute, go to https://most cancers.wvumedicine.org/giving for extra info.
All presents are made via the WVU Basis, the nonprofit group that receives and administers non-public donations on behalf of the College and its affiliated entities.