“Talk about Philly credibility. Phil Martelli, Media’s own, played college ball at Widener and cut his teeth coaching at Bishop Kenrick before winning 444 games in 24 seasons at St. Joe’s.
“Fran Dunphy followed a similar path from Delco to a local school called LaSalle College to the Catholic League ranks, then went on to win 580 games in 30 years at Penn and Temple before taking over at his Alma Mater last year.”
That’s the story according to Joe De Camara and Jon Ritchie, 94WIP SportsRadio.
And, “that’s over 1,000 wins from two guys from Delco, and they’ll get their just due” at the 2024 Coaches vs. Cancer BasketBall Gala on Saturday, April 13.
With Independence Blue Cross as the Presenting Sponsor, The BasketBall Gala will be held at The Bellevue to honor the CVC founders Fran and Ree Dunphy and Phil and Judy Martelli, the powerhouse of monumental fundraising.
Nearly 30 years ago, while building their legacies on the basketball court, Fran Dunphy and Phil Martelli founded the Philadelphia Chapter of Coaches vs. Cancer.
The Founding Big 5 Coaches were Bill Herrion, Phil Martelli, John Chaney, Speedy Morris, Fran Dunphy, and Steve Lappas.
To increase and sustain the impact of those efforts, Ree Dunphy and Judy Martelli joined forces and established The BasketBall Gala, as the premier fundraising event, which will celebrate its 20th Anniversary on April 13.
Through their leadership, guidance, and desire to “Crush Cancer,” they have grown the Philadelphia Chapter of Coaches vs. Cancer to be the largest in the country and have raised awareness, and in excess of $20 million for the American Cancer Society.
The Dunphys and Martellis have played an integral role in every major local American Cancer Society milestone and campaign.
One of their most tangible contributions was leading the charge to make the Philadelphia Hope Lodge a reality, ensuring that cancer patients from around the world have a “free home away from home” while they receive treatment in the City of Brotherly Love.
The two couples have been a resource to so many of those in the Metropolitan Philadelphia community, fighting this disease.
Thus the American Cancer Society wishes to express its gratitude for their relentless commitment to the shared vision to end cancer for everyone, everywhere.
The American Cancer Society is proud to announce that Dan and Joan Hilferty will be serving as the Honorary Chairs of the 20th Anniversary Coaches vs. Cancer BasketBall Gala.
Dan and Joan Hilferty have been longtime friends of the American Cancer Society and are both personally and professionally committed to ending cancer.
The Coaches vs. Cancer BasketBall Gala brings together business, healthcare, and philanthropic leaders for a night to make a difference in the fight against cancer and to fund lifesaving research, patient services, and programs right here in Philadelphia.
More than 18 million cancer survivors are alive today, thanks in part to the American Cancer Society, the only organization working to improve the lives of people with cancer and their families through advocacy, research, and patient support, to ensure everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer.
Fifty percent of the net proceeds of the event will benefit the American Cancer Society AstraZeneca Hope Lodge to provide free lodging for those who travel to Philadelphia for cancer treatment.
Since 1996, Coaches vs. Cancer of Philadelphia has raised over $20 million to help eradicate cancer by funding life-saving research and to improve the lives of those affected by this disease.
The event is hosted by Philadelphia’s current NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Coaches, Steve Donahue (University of Pennsylvania), Fran Dunphy (La Salle University), Adam Fisher (Temple University), Billy Lange (Saint Joseph’s University), Kyle Neptune (Villanova University), and Zach Spiker (Drexel University).
Coaches vs. Cancer is a nationwide collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches.
Since 1993, more than 6,000 coaches have participated and raised over $155 million for the American Cancer Society.
The Philadelphia chapter is the most successful Coaches vs. Cancer program in the nation, having raised more than $20 million since 1996, and has engaged 20 Big 5 Men’s Basketball Head Coaches.
Volunteers are the most precious resource at the American Cancer Society.
Awarding the Society’s remarkable volunteers is a thoughtful way to let them know that they are acknowledged and appreciated for the time, talent, and treasures which they give to the Society’s organization and mission.
The Society’s esteemed national and regional awards help recognize those outstanding groups and individuals who dedicate so much of their lives to helping people living with cancer and their families.
For these reasons, the Dunphys and Martellis have been awarded the Saint George Medal.
The Saint George National Award is given to outstanding volunteers throughout all ACS Regions who have made significant contributions to the American Cancer Society’s strategic goals.
First conceived in 1949 by Dr. Charles S. Cameron, a former ACS medical and scientific director, the Saint George National Award has been presented to more than 1,400 ACS volunteers nationwide.
Coaches vs. Cancer hosts events in Philadelphia throughout the year, including networking events and a golf tournament and includes work with school and youth coaches to host tournaments, camps and more.
The April 13 schedule at a glance: The BasketBall Gala is the Philadelphia Coaches vs. Cancer program’s premier fundraising event. Last year’s event raised over $1 million to support the mission of the American Cancer Society.
- 5:30 P.M.: VIP reception
- 6 P.M.: Cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and silent auction
- 8 P.M.: Program and dinner
- 9 P.M.: Live music and dancing
The American Cancer Society and the Coaches vs. Cancer team are proud to honor the Dunphys and the Martellis at this year’s BasketBall Gala.
Please join the honorees and celebrants on Saturday, April 13 at The Bellevue, 200 South Broad Street, Philadelphia. For more information visit https://philadelphia.acsgala.org/tickets-donations/
Mary Brown is a weekly columnist and feature writer for Main Line Media News.
