LA CROSSE, Wis., (December 28, 2023) – The School District of La Crosse is proud to announce the success of the Hoops for Hope event, organized by Joanna Carman’s Advanced Marketing class at Central High School. The event, held before a varsity girls basketball game, brought together students, staff, and community members for a memorable pre-game tailgate experience.
The Hoops for Hope initiative was a semester-long project undertaken by the Advanced Marketing class, tasked with creating an event to engage the school and community. The students took charge of planning and marketing, showcasing their skills in a real-world setting. The chosen cause for the fundraiser was the American Cancer Society, reflecting the students’ commitment to supporting those affected by cancer.
The event featured a bags tournament, carnival games, prizes, drawing baskets, a miracle minute, and halftime competitions. Approximately 25 marketing students dedicated two months to planning and executing the event, raising nearly $850 for the American Cancer Society.
“My goal was for students to get hands-on experience and learn new skills,” said Business and Marketing Teacher Joanna Carman. “Hosting an event like this is a challenging task and it showed our students the importance of teamwork and motivation.”
The Hoops for Hope event aimed to foster unity within the school, bringing together students, staff, and community members for a fun-filled evening that also served as a fundraiser for a good cause.
“As a class, we wanted to do something impactful for our community as part of our final grade,” said Central High School senior Zack George. “That’s when we brainstormed and decided on the Hoops for Hope Tailgate. We took the time to figure out which charity we wanted to support, and after some thoughtful planning on the when, where, and how, we settled on rallying behind the American Cancer Society. So many of our friends and families have faced cancer, so it felt like the right cause for us.”
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