Basketball's Third Annual "Donate Life" Day Moved February 16, 2013

Bridgeport, Conn.-On Saturday, February 16, 2013, the University of Bridgeport women's and men's basketball teams will be hosting an East Coast Conference doubleheader in UB's Harvey Hubbell Gymnasium versus Queens (NY) College. Those two contests have been designated as "Donate Life" games, as all proceeds from the day (all tickets sales and a variety of raffles) will be donated to the Donate Life Connecticut organization to help raise awareness about organ and tissue donations to help save lives. 

This event is the third annual UB Basketball "Donate Life" games, and it is the brainchild of third-year Bridgeport head women's basketball coach Stephanie Del Preore to honor her late father who passed away in 2002 after a courageous battle with liver and kidney disease.

Stated coach Del Preore, "I'm so proud of how things have grown with our "Donate Life" event as we raised over $1,600 the first year and exceeded that amount for Donate Life Connecticut last season.  This year things are going to be even bigger and better as we have a great selection of items to raffle off.  The community support both on and off campus has been great.  Now we just need to get some folks in the stands.  In 2002, I lost my father to a battle with liver and kidney disease. In 1996 he received a double liver/kidney transplant which prolonged his life six more years. I was fortunate to have him at every basketball game I played from middle school to high school, and then my freshman and sophomore year at Marist College. Losing him was the worst thing I've ever went through, and basketball was my outlet. I always said that when I became a head coach I was going to do something to honor my father, my hero and my inspiration."

Action will get underway on Feburary 16 with the women's game at 1:00 p.m. followed by the men's game at approximately 3:00 p.m.  Tickets, which are available at the door, are $5 for adults and $ 2 for senior and children.  All tickets sales from the afternoon will benefit Donate Life Connecticut, and both games are key contests in this year's East Coast Conference standings as the season hits the home stretch.

Representatives from Donate Life Connecticut will be at the game to answer any questions fans have about their organization and about how to become and organ and tissue donor. 

Throughout the day, fans will also have the opportunity to purchase raffle tickets with all monies raised going to Donate Life Connecticut.  Prizes, which will be drawn at both the women's and men's game, include a variety of sport tickets to events in the tri-state area and New England, a variety of hotels stays throughout the area, gift baskets plus many gift cards to both local and national retailers and restaurants.

For more information on the University of Bridgeport basketball "Donate Life" games, please contact head coach Stephanie Del Preore at 203-576-4728.

For more information on the Donate Life program and how to register to be an organ and tissue donor, please visit the Donate Life Connecticut website at www.ctorganandtissuedonation.org