Governor’s Holiday Hoops Classic Features Basketball and Food Drive Competitions
November 13, 2012
The Old Dominion University community will have a chance to score two victories over the University of Virginia in December, and all for a good cause.
The men's basketball Monarchs will take the court against the UVa Cavaliers on Saturday, Dec. 22, as part of a four-team event known as the Governor's Holiday Hoops Classic, a basketball doubleheader to benefit the Federation of Virginia Food Banks.
And in the month preceding the game, the two schools will square off to see who can collect the most food and donations for local food banks, including the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia in Hampton Roads.
Between Nov. 15 and Dec. 15, schools will work with their local food banks to collect goods on campus. The Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia will keep a record of ODU donations of food, as well as online donations, for a final amount. A winner between ODU and UVa, and between the University of Richmond and George Mason University, will be announced between the games of the Governor's Holiday Hoops Classic.
"I am confident this will be a spirited competition," said Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell.
There are many opportunities for the ODU community to join the competition, from food dropoff receptacles on campus, to promotions and discounts connected with Monarch sporting events.
Fans who attended the Nov. 9-11 Liberty Tax Classic men's basketball tournament received a $3 discount for a food donation. Fans at the Nov. 16 wrestling meet offered a $3 discount for attendees who brought a food donation, the same discount offered to fans for the Nov. 17 Lady Monarchs basketball game against VCU.
Other events where a $3 discount will accompany a food donation include the ODU Monarchs vs. VMI on Wednesday, Nov. 21; the Lady Monarchs vs. Cal on Friday, Nov. 30; and the Monarchs' game against Richmond on Tuesday, Dec. 4. Fans are encouraged to bring food donations to the Monarchs' rivalry game with VCU on Friday, Dec. 7, however there is no discount.
Participants can drop off non-perishable food items at the following on-campus locations: the residence halls, Webb Center, Rollins Hall, Batten Arts and Letters Building, University Village Bookstore, Student Recreation Center, Alumni Relations Center, Gornto Center, and ODU's higher education centers in Virginia Beach, Hampton and Portsmouth. Local businesses have also pledged to collect food donations, and on campus radio station WODU is conducting a student food drive for the month.
Food drive participants wishing to drop off food directly with the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia should make sure to ask that the food donation be added to the ODU total for the Holiday Hoops food drive.
Monetary donations are also encouraged. Here is the link for our Hoops Classic donation page: http://fbseva.convio.net/site/Donation2?1462.donation=form1&df_id=1462, where food drive participants can donate to add to the ODU total. A $1 donation equals four pounds of food.
The "Governor's Holiday Hoops Classic" features two games between teams representing three athletic conferences. In the first game, GMU will take on Richmond. The second game will feature ODU against UVa. That game will tip off at 5:30 p.m.
Ticket prices for the doubleheader are $70 for club seats, $50 for seats in the lower bowl, $35 for seats in the upper level and $20 for seats in the 300 level. Student floor seats will be sold for $10.