Shoes squeak against the polished court, basketballs swish through nets and excited chatter echoes through the bleachers. At first glance, the scene seems like your typical basketball game, but this particular game held a deeper, more meaningful purpose than winning.

On Feb 14, Papillion La Vista High School hosted its 17th annual Color of Hope night, a special event dedicated to raising funds and awareness for cancer research. The event was originally launched in 2008 by Michelle Mathison, who serves as a key sponsor for this event. Since then, the Color of Hope tradition has raised over $120,000 for the American Cancer Society (ACS). 

“ACS truly depends on donations to continue their research to find better treatments and hopefully, in our lifetime, a cure,” Mathison said. 

In addition to the sale of 935 Color of Hope t-shirts, the Junior Committee played a crucial role in raising additional funds through a “Miracle Minute.” Members of the committee went around the stands with donation buckets, encouraging the crowd to contribute to the cause. This year, their efforts paid off, raising a total of $4,520 for the American Cancer Society, bringing the impact of Color of Hope Night to an even greater level.

“Thank you everyone for helping us make a difference so that no one fights alone,” Mathison said.