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MaxPreps, the online high school sports leader and a CBS Sports Digital property, and PLEDGE IT, the leading online sports fundraising platform, are joining forces to empower high school football teams across the country to raise funds for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital through a new annual program, Touchdowns Against Cancer.
In support of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Touchdowns Against Cancer is a first-of-its-kind national program aimed at unifying high school football teams across the country for a common cause: defeating childhood cancer.
Teams will launch PLEDGE IT campaigns enabling their fans to pledge a donation for every touchdown scored from Sept. 15 to October 1. Beginning today, varsity high school football coaches can enroll their team through their MaxPreps coach administration page. Funds raised through this campaign will benefit the lifesaving mission of St. Jude: finding cures and saving children. Fans of high school football everywhere are encouraged to recruit their coaches to participate.
“MaxPreps supports the role high school sports play in unifying local communities and teaching teens important life lessons through sports,” said Andy Beal, Founder and President of MaxPreps. “Every team has a player, parent, coach or classmate affected by cancer, and we are proud to partner with PLEDGE IT and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to bring high school football teams and fans together, nationwide, to fight childhood cancer.”
“We believe in the power of sport for social good,” added Scott Shirley, Founder & CEO of PLEDGE IT. “MaxPreps is absolutely the best partner to mobilize high school football teams from coast-to-coast for a cause far greater than wins on the field. And there’s no organization more committed to treating and curing childhood cancer than St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Together we can create opportunities for teams to make a positive impact and empower them to help St. Jude defeat childhood cancer.”
“We are excited to see the philanthropic efforts of teens across the country as they support St. Jude patients, kids just like themselves, who are battling childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases,” said Richard Shadyac Jr., President and CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. “This campaign, which launches during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, will help St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital continue to push the search for cures, and ensure that no family receives a bill for anything, but can focus on helping their child live.”
To learn more about the program, visit touchdownsagainstcancer.com.
About MaxPreps
MaxPreps is America’s source for high school sports, dedicated to covering every team, every game and every player. MaxPreps partners with nearly 100,000 coaches throughout America. Founded in August 2002, MaxPreps.com is headquartered in Cameron Park, California and is a unit of CBS Interactive. For more information about MaxPreps.com and for the latest high school sports news, scores, and expert analysis, please visit www.maxpreps.com. For more information about CBS Interactive, visit www.cbsinteractive.com.
About PLEDGE IT
PLEDGE IT is the leading online sports fundraising platform, empowering teams and athletes to raise money based on their gameday performance. Fans can pledge for every home run, touchdown, or goal scored to raise funds for their team or favorite charity. PLEDGE IT allows athletes to support their cause by simply playing the game.
PLEDGE IT supports teams and athletes of all sports and levels, as well as national non-profit organizations. Athletes using PLEDGE IT have included Kevin Durant, Larry Fitzgerald and David Ortiz, as well as collegiate, high school and youth sports teams across the country. To learn more, visit pledgeit.org.