UConn's Ollie Helps St. Vincent's Raise $63K for Cancer Patients

BRIDGEPORT, Connecticut - May 11, 2015 - UCONN Men's Basketball Coach Kevin Ollie shared his life philosophy with nearly 400 attendees at the 19th Annual Celebrity Breakfast. In a deeply personal keynote address, Ollie revealed that fighting cancer is "dear to his heart." While his team was fighting for a national championship, his mother was battling two different forms of cancer. He cited faith, not fear, as the most important motivator for him then and now. The event, which raised $63,000 for cancer patients and their families, benefited St. Vincent's SWIM Across the Sound and was generously sponsored by People's United Bank.
 
"When things don't go our way, I tell my team: we didn't have a bad season, we had a character building season. You have to be committed even when things get rough," Ollie said. "The SWIM is there for you when things get rough. It stands for commitment and caring for people when they need it most. Coach Calhoun taught me to never stop believing; never stop trusting; and never stop working hard. You have to trust and believe that your team is going to be there for you... just like you trust that the SWIM will be there for you."
 
In 1987, SWIM Across the Sound held its first marathon with six swimmers and two boats, raising $5,000. Last year, there were 100 boat captains supporting 190 swimmers, who collectively raised nearly $350,000, with all proceeds going to our programs. The SWIM's first community imitative was a mammography screening program for women with no insurance. Today, the SWIM offers 45 subsidized programs that annually touch the lives of more than 30,000 individual across Connecticut.

"These are challenging times and people are replying on the SWIM even more," explained Dianne Auger, president, St. Vincent's Medical Center Foundation, who urged attendees to generously tip the well-known business and civic leaders in the greater Bridgeport region serving as 'celebrity waiters.' "The money raised this morning supports everything from free prostrate screenings and medication assistance programs to nutritional counseling, exercise classes, and support groups for patients and caregivers - and so much more. As Kevin said, it's about family and St. Vincent's is the family you turn to for exceptional care close to home."
 
To learn more about the St. Vincent's Medical Center Foundation, visit www.SwimAcrossTheSound.org.