UConn Men’s Basketball To Make Appearance At Middlebury Elementary

**News Release Submitted by Tommy Fund for Childhood Cancer**

May 29, 2024

Players of the University of Connecticut’s Men's Basketball team will make appearance at Middlebury Elementary School on May 31 in partnership with the Tommy Fund for Childhood Cancer to celebrate the school’s fundraising success of their 2024 “Hats for Hope™”.

Created by the Tommy Fund, “Hats for Hope™” (HFH) is an easy and fun fundraising campaign where Connecticut schools can help support children receiving cancer treatment at Smilow Cancer Hospital, Yale New Haven by wearing any hat of choice to school. For just one dollar or more per participant, schools across the state can make a big difference in a small way.

This spring, the Tommy Fund’s Spring HFH promotion allowed the highest participating fundraising school to receive a special appearance by the 2024 Championship UConn Men’s Basketball team at their school. In the end, Middlebury Elementary School (MES) took the win.

MES participated in a month-long campaign during March, showcasing different hat themed weeks to encourage their students and staff to continue to show up for the Tommy Fund. On April 1st, the school announced an astonishing fundraising total of $4,543.62 for the non-profit, winning the Spring 2024 HFH campaign contest.

HFH ambassador, Leigh Funderburk, announced the grand total to the students at a school wide assembly, thanking everyone for their participation and support.

“Here at MES, we are incredibly excited to be the top fundraiser for the 'Hats for Hope™' campaign,” says Funderbunk. “Our students, staff and MES families worked hard to raise funds to support children with cancer as well as their families. This cause was our mission for the month of March, however, a visit from players who won back to back championships is surely the icing on the cake!”

Middlebury anticipates the arrival of several champions of the UConn Men’s Basketball team, including Hassan Diarra and Jaylin Stewart. Accompanying them will be new recruits Aidan Mahaney and Tarris Reed.

The event will begin at 2 p.m. in the school’s gymnasium and is open to the media. The players will do a panel Q & A, where students will have the opportunity to ask them questions, pose for pictures, and more.

The team’s efforts are supported by “Bleeding Blue for Good”, which according to the foundation’s website is the university's commitment to “recognize the accomplishments of UConn student-athletes by providing nation-leading Name, Image, and Likeness opportunities that support Connecticut charities”. The Tommy Fund and Bleeding Blue for Good partnered together in the 2023-2024 school year, and remain engaged year-round in the fight for childhood cancer throughout CT.

For schools interested in participating in their own HFH campaign, the Tommy Fund encourages individuals contacting their school’s PTA or administrator to get a date secured for the upcoming school year. The Tommy Fund will support the school’s efforts every step of the way and will supply online giving platforms, incentives, and more. For any additional questions or resources, please contact events@tommyfund.org.

Since 1953, the Tommy Fund for Childhood Cancer has provided HELP & HOPE to families whose children are undergoing treatments at the Tommy Fund Pediatric Hematology & Oncology Center, Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital and Smilow Cancer Hospital.