Wilson and the NCAA have successfully used Facebook to raise awareness and money in the fight against cancer. The “Every Pass Counts: Ultimate Assist” program was developed by Wilson Sporting Goods Co. and the NCAA to make it easy for college hoop fans on Facebook to join in the fight against cancer during March Madness.
By the end of the tournament, Facebook users had sent a grand total of 256,722 passes to friends around the country. The program was developed in two stages. The initial stage called for Facebook users to sign up to “Become A Fan” by searching for Wilson Sporting Goods. After joining the group, fans were then asked to pass a virtual Wilson NCAA Basketball to other Facebook friends. For every pass a user sent to a friend, Wilson donated 10 cents to Coaches vs Cancer. The user who made the most passes received $1000 in Wilson Sporting Goods equipment. The passing began March 12th and ran through the NCAA Championship games.
Wilson donated more than $25,000 to Coaches vs Cancer this year as a result of the program.
“Wilson is honored to partner with the NCAA in the fight against cancer,” said Alan Davenport, business director of Wilson Basketball. “And by using social networking sites, Wilson and the NCAA have a tremendous opportunity to engage thousands of young fans across the country to work collectively on behalf of a great cause.”
“The steps that Wilson is taking in support of Coaches vs Cancer and the American Cancer Society will make a significant difference in the fight against cancer,” said Van Velsor Wolf, chair, American Cancer Society National Board of Directors. “The campaign will help us achieve our mission of saving lives from cancer by helping people stay well through prevention and early detection, helping people get well during and after a diagnosis, by funding groundbreaking discoveries and fighting back through public policy. We are delighted that Wilson is helping to raise awareness of cancer through this effort.”
Coaches vs. Cancer is a nationwide collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches. The initiative leverages the personal experiences, community leadership, and professional excellence of basketball coaches nationwide to increase cancer awareness and promote healthy living through year-round awareness efforts, fundraising activities, and advocacy programs.
