KINGSTON, R.I. – University of Rhode Island Athletics and three of its corporate partners integral in the most recent Pink Out initiative recognized Mandy Zito and the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation – providing the organization with a $5,832 check for much-needed funding. The overall total bested last year’s gift by over $3,000.

3zqc5op5ghmp2f20URI Athletics, along with South County Hospital, Bank Rhode Island and Lexus of Warwick celebrated a highly successful Pink Out initiative held in February. In honor of the ninth Annual event, the men’s game featured a match up against Davidson on February 25, and the women’s game was on February 26 against Saint Louis. B101 and WPRI were the media partners providing support.

“I’m blown away by the tremendous outcome of this event, and grateful to everyone associated with the effort to raise an incredible amount of money to help this organization,” said Mandy Zito, young survivor program coordinator for the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation. “It’s an honor to be a part of such an impactful program to help other women, and I want to thank the students and campus community who backed Pink Out last February. It’s really remarkable.”

Both of the selected basketball games were promoted by T-shirt sales across campus and the community, generating a total of $5,706. The T-shirts were produced on campus in the URI Bookstore, with efforts led by Paul Whitney, URI Bookstore director and URI Licensing. Complementing the T-shirt sales was a total of $126 cash donations.

In addition to Zito, others in attendance for the check presentation were URI Men’s Basketball Assistant Coach David Cox; Lexus of Warwick Product Specialist Winnie Choi; Breast Health Coordinator/Navigator for South County Hospital Susan Hall; Bank Rhode Island Branch Manager, Officer Brenda Celani; and URI Women’s Basketball Head Coach Daynia La-Force.

“We’re thrilled by the overwhelming support generated for the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation,” said Daryl Jasper, general manager for Learfield Sports’ Rhody Sports Properties, the multimedia rights holder for URI Athletics which coordinates all corporate partner engagement. “It’s rewarding to feel like we’ve made a contribution to a valuable organization in our area and really appreciate the backing of URI Athletics’ corporate partners, our media partners, and everyone on campus who stepped up to help make this effort even bigger in its ninth year.”

In its nine years of involvement, URI Athletics has raised more than $65,000 for the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation. This marked South County Hospital’s sixth year to be a supporter; Bank Rhode Island’s second year of involvement and the inaugural year for Lexus of Warwick.