Penn State coach Ed DeChellis and Penn State Coaches vs. Cancer kicked off their 2008-09 fund raising drive with the third annual CVC Reverse Car Drawing at Penn State's Medlar Field at Lubrano Park baseball complex Thursday night.

More than 600 supporters attended the lavishly catered event held on the stadium concourse on a gorgeous September evening. The home of the State College Spikes and Penn State baseball was transformed into a garden party for the gala event with stylish landscaping, ice sculptures, wine and drink bars and veranda décor. Attendees enjoyed the lavish catering of Danny Rallis as they mingled and enjoyed live music provided by JR Mangan and Tommy Wareham.

"It was just a terrific evening for a great cause that has touched everyone," DeChellis, a cancer survivor, said. "The CVC committee continues to put on first class events and the support of our sponsors and the community continues to be tremendous. It was a great way to get our fund raising activities started this year."

Well known ReMax Realty agent Nancy Ring had the last number drawn on the night as her name was announced by the voice of the Nittany Lions Steve Jones as the winner of the Corvette. But, the big winner on the night was the American Cancer Society and CVC, which will net more than $25,000 from the night as they look to build on the $1 million plateau of funds raised in the first 12 years of the Penn State CVC organization. 

This years auction item will be a 2009 Ford F150 King
Ranch truck and Yamaha Grizzly 700 F1.

"There is no way to express the gratitude we feel and how appreciative we are for all the support Coaches vs. Cancer receives throughout the year from our community, our Nittany Lion basketball family, and friends as far away as California," committee member Elana Pyle said. "We have loyal sponsors too numerous to mention who have been with us since we started this journey over a decade ago, and we owe so much of our success to them. The Rallis and Leitzell families are the major sponsors of the reverse drawing, and we are very lucky to be the recipients of their generosity."

Coaches vs. Cancer chapter continues to grow each year and has raised a 12-year total of just over $1,000,000 to support the American Cancer Society through events such as the reverse drawing and the annual Celebrity Golf Tournament held in June. The chapter has also made great efforts to keep much of the money raised in the local community providing direct financial assistance to individuals and families stricken by cancer through a close alliance with the Bob Perks Cancer Assistance Fund (BPCAF).

"Having our CVC director, Steve Greer, with us last night was the icing on the cake," Pyle said. "He and so many others who are fighting cancer are the reason we put so much time and energy into CVC. Our committee has a common goal - try to make a difference in the lives of those who have been affected by a disease that has touched all of us in one way or another."

The 4th Annual CVC Reverse Car Drawing will be held on Thursday, September 24, 2009 at Medlar Field which is the home of the State College Spikes.  Please call 814-865-1717 for information on this year's event or click HERE for a brochure.