Ankeny Centennial High School Teacher Jodi Larson & Craig Phinney, Exec Director CAC
Ankeny Athletic Booster provide donation to area cancer families in need.
PRESS RELEASE: Dec 16, 2016
For the past seven years, the Ankeny Community Schools has organized a Pink Out campaign. Ankeny Teachers, Annie Stoessel, and Jodi Larson, started this program because they were personally affected by cancer and wanted to help others. The shirt design is donated by Ankeny breast cancer survivor Heather Brewer. Each year the shirts are sold within the schools and at a variety of sporting events to raise cancer awareness. Ankeny Centennial High School and Ankeny High School volleyball team participated in a Pink Out game where the shirts are worn. The money raised from the sales is distributed to families in Ankeny and the Des Moines metro who have been affected by cancer and could use the extra support.
On Wednesday, Dec 15, 2016, Ms. Jodi Larson, Ankeny Centennial High School Teacher presented Craig Phinney, Executive Director of the Cops Against Cancer organization a donation check in the amount of $1,000.00 from proceeds of the Ankeny School fundraising event.
This is the third year the Ankeny Athletic Booster’s Club has presented a donation to the Cops Against Cancer organization.
Phinney stated, “we have an amazing and wonderful relationship with the Ankeny Public Schools and the projects Ms. Larson is affiliated in. For the past three years, Ms. Larson’s Health Science Class at Ankeny Centennial High has selected the Cops Against Cancer organization in which a group 3-4 students brainstorm their ideas how to support and assist the organization with their greatest need at the time. Last year the group assisted a family of a 2-year liver cancer patient, in which the group fundraised to purchase a stroller, toys, and games for the patient during treatments and gas cards to assist the family traveling back and forth to the Omaha Cancer Treatment Center. The group also provided babysitting to assist and provide the parents of the patient a date night out opportunity."
This year, Phinney reports the group he is working directly with is providing Christmas dinner and presents for a struggling cancer patient who is a single dad with three teenage children. The client recently was released after 21 days from the University of Iowa Hospital following surgery and a bone marrow transplant. Phinney went on to say, “with these student’s passion for serving their community, there will be a truly blessed family enjoying a special Christmas this year.”
Phinney closed by stating, "100% of this donation will be used towards the Cancer Client Care Program."
