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The University of Utah Athletics
Women’s Basketball Launches Community Series for Pac-12 Conference Home Games
1/10/2023 11:00 AM | Women's Basketball
“Utes Beyond the Paint” connects the community with the program while serving those in need, bolstered by personal support from head coach Lynne Roberts
SALT LAKE CITY – One of the nation's most successful women's basketball programs is embarking on a community series that will serve those in need and connect people more with the program's student-athletes and coaches. The Utes, ranked 10th in the nation with a record of 14-1, announced today the launch of "Utes Beyond the Paint," a community series that combines service in the community and attendance and recognition at home basketball games at the Jon M. Huntsman Center throughout the Pac-12 portion of the team's schedule.
Utes Beyond the Paint will debut this week, leading into the team's home games against Arizona State on Friday and Arizona on Sunday. For the first event in the series, the Utes are partnering with the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge in Salt Lake City, and will tip off the events for the week by hosting a bingo night for residents of the Lodge on Wednesday, Jan. 11 at 6:30 p.m. MT.
"I love living in Salt Lake City and so does my family," said head coach Lynne Roberts. "A big part of the Salt Lake City community is connecting with the U, and together we have a tremendous platform to serve those in need in our community. The needs are many, and it is our goal to generate excitement around our basketball program while supporting some of our community's greatest needs. This is very personal for my family and me, so we will be donating $100 for every made three-pointer by our team in these games. My dream for this community series is for our fans to not only became more aware of some of our community's needs, but to have an opportunity to turn that awareness into action, lending their support to these programs."
The American Cancer Society Hope Lodge program provides a free home away from home for cancer patients and their caregivers, and serves as a nurturing community that helps patients access the care they need. The Salt Lake City Hope Lodge opened in 2015 and offers 40 guest rooms located near treatment centers in the area. Each Hope Lodge community offers a supportive, home-like environment where guests can share a meal, join in the evening's activities, or unwind in their own private room. Patients staying at a Hope Lodge must be in active cancer treatment and permanently reside more than 40 miles away from their cancer treatment center.
"We're excited to bring community organizations into our program, and we encourage our fans to join us in directly supporting these organizations," Roberts said. "There are multiple ways to contribute, including an easy-to-access QR code online and on-site to encourage donations, and information at our games about other ways to get involved to serve the needs of our partnered community organizations. Let's do this, Salt Lake City!"
The Utes, who made an amazing run to the Pac-12 championship game a year ago and advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament, entered the 2022-23 season with increased expectations and a focus on increasing community engagement. The program aims to use its reach to elevate the Salt Lake City and University of Utah communities and build relationships between student-athletes and the neighboring communities, as well as relationships between local causes and Utah fans.
The intention of Utes Beyond the Paint is to pair local organizations and causes with the Utah Women's Basketball program for the team's four Pac-12 Conference home weekends. In addition to a mid-week in-person activity, organizations will be invited to attend the games at the Huntsman Center, and receive recognition in the venue to direct fans to methods of donating time, money or resources to the invited organizations. There will be an honorary Coach of the Game, as well as the donation made by Coach Roberts to the community organization for every made three-point shot.
Beginning with this week's debut events, the full schedule is as follows:
Jan. 13 (ASU) & 15 (Arizona) – Salt Lake City: American Cancer Society Hope Lodge
Jan. 27 (USC) & 29 (UCLA) – Show Up Utah: Unified Sports
Feb. 10 (UW) and 12 (WSU) – Salt Lake City: Food Justice Coalition
Feb. 23 (Cal) and 25 (Stanford) – Salt Lake City: Food Bank
Utes Beyond the Paint will debut this week, leading into the team's home games against Arizona State on Friday and Arizona on Sunday. For the first event in the series, the Utes are partnering with the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge in Salt Lake City, and will tip off the events for the week by hosting a bingo night for residents of the Lodge on Wednesday, Jan. 11 at 6:30 p.m. MT.
"I love living in Salt Lake City and so does my family," said head coach Lynne Roberts. "A big part of the Salt Lake City community is connecting with the U, and together we have a tremendous platform to serve those in need in our community. The needs are many, and it is our goal to generate excitement around our basketball program while supporting some of our community's greatest needs. This is very personal for my family and me, so we will be donating $100 for every made three-pointer by our team in these games. My dream for this community series is for our fans to not only became more aware of some of our community's needs, but to have an opportunity to turn that awareness into action, lending their support to these programs."
The American Cancer Society Hope Lodge program provides a free home away from home for cancer patients and their caregivers, and serves as a nurturing community that helps patients access the care they need. The Salt Lake City Hope Lodge opened in 2015 and offers 40 guest rooms located near treatment centers in the area. Each Hope Lodge community offers a supportive, home-like environment where guests can share a meal, join in the evening's activities, or unwind in their own private room. Patients staying at a Hope Lodge must be in active cancer treatment and permanently reside more than 40 miles away from their cancer treatment center.
"We're excited to bring community organizations into our program, and we encourage our fans to join us in directly supporting these organizations," Roberts said. "There are multiple ways to contribute, including an easy-to-access QR code online and on-site to encourage donations, and information at our games about other ways to get involved to serve the needs of our partnered community organizations. Let's do this, Salt Lake City!"
The Utes, who made an amazing run to the Pac-12 championship game a year ago and advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament, entered the 2022-23 season with increased expectations and a focus on increasing community engagement. The program aims to use its reach to elevate the Salt Lake City and University of Utah communities and build relationships between student-athletes and the neighboring communities, as well as relationships between local causes and Utah fans.
The intention of Utes Beyond the Paint is to pair local organizations and causes with the Utah Women's Basketball program for the team's four Pac-12 Conference home weekends. In addition to a mid-week in-person activity, organizations will be invited to attend the games at the Huntsman Center, and receive recognition in the venue to direct fans to methods of donating time, money or resources to the invited organizations. There will be an honorary Coach of the Game, as well as the donation made by Coach Roberts to the community organization for every made three-point shot.
Beginning with this week's debut events, the full schedule is as follows:
Jan. 13 (ASU) & 15 (Arizona) – Salt Lake City: American Cancer Society Hope Lodge
Jan. 27 (USC) & 29 (UCLA) – Show Up Utah: Unified Sports
Feb. 10 (UW) and 12 (WSU) – Salt Lake City: Food Justice Coalition
Feb. 23 (Cal) and 25 (Stanford) – Salt Lake City: Food Bank
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