Hoops Tournament Shoots SHSU To No. 1

The SHSU sponsored 2004 Hoops for Hearts tournament and auctions generated more money than any other university in both Texas and the United States.

In its second year, the fundraising event almost doubled the amount raised last year, bringing in $9,694.50 for the American Heart Association, according to Robert Case, health and kinesiology professor.

“We are No. 1 in the United States in terms of generating funds for that particular event for any college or university campus,” Case said, adding that the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga raised more money than SHSU, but in the Jump Rope for Heart event. “We’re proud of the fact that we’re able to do this and that the community has picked up the challenge with us.”

Adding to the impressiveness of the amount raised was the fact that fewer people attended the basketball games where the silent and live auctions were held, Case said.

"There were half as many people at the basketball game this year for our draw. Last year when Stephen F. Austin played Sam Houston (when the event was held), the conference championship was up for grabs, and we had a great crowd; we had about 5,000 people,” he said. “This year we had about 2,500 people.”

Several factors contributed to this year’s success, Case said. There were 110 items donated for this year’s silent auctions, 60 more than last year, and the number of collection buckets passed around were increased as well.

In the live auction, the TV donated by Ward’s Furniture and Flooring raised $650 and the cordless power tool set from Home Depot raised $150.

“Approximately 65 businesses in the community that didn’t give us something to silent or live auction, many of them gave us a check,” Case said.

Hoops for Hearts was implemented in 2003 in an attempt to draw in more participants than the Jump Rope for Heart event the department had previously hosted. In 2002, the department raised only $75 with Jump Rope for Heart, and in the first year of Hoops for Hearts, the department raised $5,100, Case said.

All monies collected benefit the AHA to provide educational material for kids and adults about cardiovascular disease, to conduct research and to provide things like high technology for cardiologists.

“One out of every 29 ladies in the United States dies from breast cancer, yet we talk about breast cancer, which we should, but one out of every two women in the United States dies from cardiovascular disease,” Case said.

“515,000 Americans die every year from heart attacks and another 167,000 die from strokes in this country. It is the leading premature killer in our society and the two most prevalent causes of cardiovascular disease are No. 1, smoking and No. 2, obesity and obesity is gaining ground.”

The Hoops for Hearts tournament is one of two ways Sam Houston State University contributes to the AHA. Every fall, university employees and students, as well as Walker County residents, participate in the Heart Walk, held at Bower’s Stadium.

Case said he believes the basketball tournament will continue to grow and, next year, will challenge other universities around the state “to pick up the ball and do a better job.

“I’d like to think that we’ve planted the seeds here to continue to grow this event for the American Heart Association,”

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SHSU Media Contact: Jennifer Gauntt
March 26, 2004
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