North Jefferson News, Gardendale, AL

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  • The second annual Charity Bowl, hosted by the Gardendale Youth Football Association, raised funds on Saturday for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama. Above, a boy gets his hand painted at one of the fund-raising booths at the “Charity Carnival.” In the other photo, the pressbox at the William Noble Athletic Complex is plastered with pink and with words of encouragement and hope. The day featured six football games between the Gardendale and Vestavia Hills youth football associations.

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September 3, 2010

Charity Bowl exceeds fundraising goal

By Melanie Patterson The North Jefferson News

NORTH JEFFERSON — Gardendale blew it out of the water again.

The Gardendale Youth Football Association hosted the second annual Charity Bowl on Saturday, bringing in $17,350, which was well over its goal of $12,000 for breast cancer research.

Jennifer S. Galbreath, program director for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama (BCRFA), said the event last year also exceeded its goal.

The Charity Bowl featured a series of six football games between the Gardendale Youth Football Association and the Vestavia Hills Youth Football Association.

Each Gardendale football team and cheerleading squad hosted a fund-raising booth such as face painting, dunking booth, colored hairspray or a game. Parents donated all of the supplies, so 100 percent of proceeds raised from the booths went to BCRFA.

There was also a silent auction, where Dr. Cheri Cunningham bid a generous $600 for a Gardendale “super fan pack,” filled with materials donated by the Gardendale High School Booster Club.

On the same day, Lulu’s in Mt. Olive donated 50-percent of its proceeds to BCRFA. There were also corporate sponsors and other donors.

“They put together such an incredible program,” said Galbreath of the youth football association. “These children really learned about community and volunteering this week. ... We have great events all year long, but that one means so much to be because it’s my hometown. It’s so heartwarming to see a community come together like that.”

Two Gardendale representatives, Suzanne Burdette and Kristy Bensko, attended a BCRFA board meeting on Tuesday, where they presented the check to the organization.

All funds donated to BCRFA stays in Alabama. It goes to the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center.

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