DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University women's basketball program will host its first-ever “Pay It Forward” game presented by the Sheraton West Des Moines Sunday, Nov. 24 when in-state rival Iowa State visits the Knapp Center. Fans who bring three canned food items to the game will receive free admission to the team's Dec. 5 game.
Earlier this year, the women's basketball program set a goal to perform 1,000 hours of community service in honor of the late Kum & Go co-founder William Krause and his work in the Des Moines community. Part of this goal led to the program hosting a Pay It Forward game to challenge the Des Moines community to get involved with service work. The game will showcase what Mr. Krause meant to the women's basketball program and to the Des Moines community.
“The idea for the Pay It Forward game arose from the example Bill Krause provided throughout his life with the generosity he showed,” said head coach Jennie Baranczyk. “I was privileged to witness Bill's philanthropy, and this first annual Pay It Forward game will be played in his honor. Our team is committed to serving this community, and we hope that the message presented at Sunday's game encourages others to pay it forward, locally or beyond, just as so many members of the Drake family do.”
As part of the Pay It Forward theme, fans that bring three canned food items will receive free admission to the team's home game on Thursday, Dec. 5 versus Idaho State. Drake's Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) is partnering with Alpha Phi Omega, a co-ed service fraternity on campus with over 200 members, to collect food on campus as well in its effort to pay it forward. The canned foods will be donated to The Community Action Agency of the City of Des Moines as a part of National Hunger and Homeless Awareness week.
In addition there will be a special half-time presentation at the Iowa State game that will highlight junior Cara Lutes (Maple Grove, Minn.) and a group of Drake students' humanitarian trip to Uganda this past May.
To purchase tickets click here or call the Drake Ticket Office at 515-271-(DOGS) 3647.
