Media Contact: Executive Director, Tony Spano - avspano@hopemv.org

Basketball Charity Event Set for Feb. 4

YOUNGSTOWN - The Hope Foundation of the Mahoning Valley presents their 8th Annual "GAME OF HOPE CHARITY BASKETBALL CLASSIC" on Saturday, February 4, 2012 at YSU's Beeghly Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 4:30 pm and tickets are $6 at the door or can be purchased on the foundations website.

Teams are comprised of elected officials, community leaders and media from the region while the annual charity basketball winter classic benefits the Hope Foundation of the Mahoning Valley; a non-profit organization that raises funds to benefit chronically/terminally ill children so that they may have the experiences generally afforded healthy children.

The event is proudly sponsored by television stations WKBN 27 First News & FOX Youngstown; WYTV & MyYTV; radio stations 95.9 KISS, 93.3 "THE WOLF" and News Radio 570 WKBN; UAW Locals 1112 & 1714; Refresh Dental, NEOEA (North Eastern Ohio Education Association); Time Warner Cable and the Lamar Advertising Company.

There's plenty of fun for the entire family with dance squads, mascots and activities for the kids. The event has raised nearly $60,000 over the past seven years however, to ensure its continued success, your help is needed. The game will be televised via tape delay starting Sunday, February 26 and over the next three months is expected to reach a viewing audience of nearly one million people. You can check the Hope Foundation website for channels and times.

We will honor our Charter Class of Hall of Fame inductees - two highly recognizable names from YSU that are equated success in their respective sports. The charter class includes the late Dom Rosselli, former YSU men's basketball and baseball coach and Ed DiGregorio, former YSU women's hoops coach.

Both coaches have served their employer and community in a variety of ways, including serving as honorary coaches at our inaugural event eight years ago.

For further information regarding donations and tickets, visit our website at www.hopemv.org.

NOTE: The Hope Foundation of the Mahoning Valley is a non-profit organization. Its mission is the furtherance of charitable and financial support and volunteer services to and for chronically and/or terminally ill children on a local and regional level.
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Grant Applications Now Being Accepted from the Hope Foundation

Youngstown, Ohio (Wednesday, May 10, 2011) - The Hope Foundation of the Mahoning Valley is now accepting grant applications for this year. The Hope Foundation is a non-profit 501(c) 3 organization formed in 2007 and its mission is to the furtherance of charitable and financial support and volunteer services to and for chronically/terminally ill children on a local, regional and/or national level.

This foundation will support, but is not limited to providing grants and dedicating its resources to the education, research and/or charitable centers that provide services for chronically/terminally ill children. All application is due by July 1. The maximum grant that can be awarded to an organization is $1,000. More info can be found on the Hope Foundation's website @ www.hopemv.org.

Maximum grant awarded per organization: $1000. All Applications are due by July 1.
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This past November, the Founder/Executive Director of the Hope Foundation of the Mahoning Valley, Tony Spano was honored for being a 40 Under 40 Honoree. The award is a community effort to honor men and women age 40 and under who are making an impact in their chosen professions and have demonstrated a commitment to community involvement. Each honoree is recognized at the awards ceremony ever November. The position of Founder/Executive Director is a %100 volunteer. There is no paid staff.

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