CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cleveland State University Department of Athletics recently concluded a fundraising campaign to help the fight against pediatric cancer.
Each Viking athletic team competed against one another in a 'Penny War' with all the proceeds benefiting Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. All teams had a penny jug that they were encouraged to bring to athletic events and display prominently around campus to help raise funds for the cause.
The fencing team won the friendly competition among Viking squads by collecting a whooping 28,302 pennies. The wrestling team was second (8,200) while the cross country and track & field squads collected the third-most pennies (6,834).
Sophomore Sierra Davidson of the CSU women's basketball team, and a board member on CSU's Student-Athlete Advisory Council, organized groups of fellow student-athletes to visit Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital throughout both semesters of this past academic year. The CSU student-athletes played games and interacted with the patients at the hospital, which is part of the Children's Miracle Network.
Penny Wars by the Numbers:
9 Dollar Coins
2 Half Dollars
926 Quarters
1,000 Dimes
393 Nickels
54,521 Pennies
Through the penny wars effort, Cleveland State raised $906.35 to fight childhood cancer.