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How you can win a chance to attend March Madness and help the OC Coyotes

Annual fundraiser set to help support Okanagan College basketball teams.

The Okanagan College Foundation has launched their annual March Madness Bracket Challenge to help support the OC Coyotes Basketball program.

This year’s grand prize is a trip for two to the 2023 NCAA March Madness tournament in Houston, TX.

They’re hoping to raise $20,000.

All the proceeds will go to support awards, bursaries, and scholarships for the players.

Five years ago, Okanagan College Coyotes men’s head coach Dino Gini, went to the president of Okanagan College and asked to start a basketball program. But with no initial funding the support from the community became critical.

“We’re built solely through the community,” Gini said. “Community funded, community based, sponsorships, donors, parents and kids going out in the community and asking for help. It’s a hard way, but it’s a healthy way.”

The Coyotes started playing in 2017 as an exhibition season before moving to the Pacific Western Athletic Association in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association.

They must raise a total of $230,000 annually, much of it coming from sponsors, and various fundraisers. Each player needs to raise $1,500 worth of sponsorships.

Gini added the program has left a positive impact for the players and the school bringing community awareness, and financial support for a future gym.

“I think we brought everything to them and the benefit to them is we are huge in the community, social media, on tv, radio,” he said. “We’re making an impact not only for the college but for the student athletes to come play.”

Coyotes player Triston Hearn said the program creates more chances for people who may or may not be from the Okanagan to come play basketball for the school.

“We just go together as a family, and we support each other,” Hearn said. “Everyone in the community is supporting the program and building it up. That’s what I like to see from it.”

For anyone interested in trying to win the grand prize, the last day to purchase a bracket is March 11. Donations to the team can be made year-round.

Published 2022-02-11 by Connor Chan

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