In 2007 the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) created the WBCA Pink Zone. Their mission was simple: a global, unified effort for the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's (WBCA) nation of coaches to assist in raising breast cancer awareness on the court, across campuses, in communities and beyond. The support shown nationally by the sports world has been magnificent and in four short years, the WBCA has raised nearly $3.3 million dollars for its charity of choice, the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. Yow, the legendary women's basketball coach at NC State, who had special ties with the Southern Conference, was a UNCG alumna and began her coaching career at Elon. She lost her very public and courageous battle with cancer in January, 2009.
Some of the WBCA's Pink Zone financial success can be attributed to the efforts of each Sothern Conference member's Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). In 2011, SoCon SAAC groups collectively raised over $7,800 for the cause. In 2010, SAAC groups were able to raise over $8,700 and over $10,600 in 2009. All told, Southern Conference SAAC groups have raised over $27,000 to fight breast cancer!
Samford has been the top fundraiser all three years, raising more than $10,000 in that span.