Feb. 4, 2014
LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. - Three exceptional team players in the Capital Region's battle against breast cancer will be recognized for their efforts at Siena Women's Basketball's 14th Annual Pink Zone Game presented by Berkshire Bank Feb. 20. Tracy Pitcher, Norm Kvam and Dr. Shannon O'Neill have been named the 2014 "Power Up the Pink" Awardees.
"The 2014 recipients are people committed to their professions and to sharing their skills, expertise and beliefs in advocacy in order to support the work of non-profit organizations in the community," said Executive Director of Capital Region Action Against Breast Cancer Deb Marchesini. "It is my hope that family, friends and fans will turn out to honor these recipients at the Pink Zone game."
The awardee from the Medical Professional category, Pitcher is the Executive Director of St. Paul's Center, an emergency shelter in Rensselaer for women and children who have no place to call home. For more than 30 years, Pitcher has worked as a social worker for nonprofit organizations. Pitcher has been responsible for bringing cancer related organizations together to share ideas and resources as part of the Capital Region Cancer Care Consortium and served as the Director of Hope Club, a cancer support community that provides information, support and connection to children, teens and adults in need.
Siena College Sodexho Catering Manager Norm Kvam is the awardee representing the Community Leader category. On Kvam, Marchesini said, "Norm is a true community leader that exhibits responsible caring business leadership. He uses his position at Siena College to efficiently host many events at the college while devoting his own personal time to various causes. He is a joy to work with and possesses excellent public relations skills to deal fairly and honestly with all who require the services he provides. The success of the pre-game reception for the Pink Zone Night is to be credited to Norm. His energy and commitment were the building blocks for developing the reception into an annual event."
The Director of Siena College's Sister Thea Bowman Center for Women, Dr. Shannon O'Neill is the recipient representing the Young Professional category. O'Neill has worked to create student programming on safe personal care products and the precautionary principle with regards to carcinogens. A former CRAAB Board Member, O'Neill and the Bowman Center have played an integral role annually at the Pink Zone game and hosted fundraisers on campus for various breast cancer organizations.
The recipients will be honored during Siena Women's Basketball's 14th Annual Pink Zone Game presented by Berkshire Bank when the Saints host Quinnipiac on Thursday, February 20th at 7 p.m. at the Alumni Recreation Center.
Siena is accepting Honorary and Rose Gold Committee applications through Feb. 5. Honorary Committee ($50) and Rose Gold Committee ($100) memberships include both a ticket to the game as well as admittance to the Pink Zone reception at 5 p.m. which includes a buffet of hearty appetizers and beverages and a silent auction.
For more information on the 2014 Pink Zone Game and how you can get involved which includes downloadable forms for the Honorary Committee, Sponsorship information and more, please visit the Official Pink Zone page at www.SienaSaints.com/pinkzone.
About Capital Region Action Against Breast Cancer
CRAAB! is a community-based non-profit organization created in 1997 by a diverse group of caregivers, health practitioners, educators, advocates and several breast cancer survivors who know first-hand about the shock of a cancer diagnosis and the need to find support. The late Patricia Brown of Siena College co-founded this organization. Dr. Brown served the Siena College biology department for 35 years. She inspired colleagues and students with her passion for teaching and her endless energy to create change.
