The event served as an opportunity for children to meet one-on-one with Mizzou Men's and Women's Basketball players, while allowing supporters of Mizzou Athletics and the Boys & Girls Clubs to meet with other patrons who share their appreciation and love for both programs.
"This partnership with the University of Missouri Athletic Department has been very special to us," Boys & Girls Clubs Executive Director Valorie Livingston said. "Partly because it's created a lot of opportunities, such as our donors coming to have dinner at Mizzou Arena while meeting players and talking with the coaches in a more informal setting all while benefiting a great cause."
Hoops for a Cause provided Boys & Girls Clubs children the experience of a lifetime, as they were each paired with members of either basketball team to eat dinner and spend the evening with.
"This is a great opportunity to get to know awesome kids," redshirt junior guard Lauren Aldridge said. "It's just a good event for the community. It's awesome for us to be able to connect with them. It's awesome for them to be able to connect with us. It's a feel good time for everybody."
Mizzou Men's and Women's Basketball partners with the Boys & Girls Clubs on multiple events throughout the year, continually showcasing support for the Columbia community while showing a different side of the athletes.
"I think it gives us more of a personal relationship," junior forward Kevin Puryear said. "People see us on TV, see us at games and wonder what kind of people we are. This gives us a chance to show who we really are and meet some really cool kids while doing it."
The night included a performance from the Missouri Boys & Girls Club Highsteppers, a silent auction, words from both head men's coach Cuonzo Martin and head women's coach Robin Pingeton and interaction throughout the evening between Boys & Girls Club kids and student-athletes.
"This is something we look forward to every year," Aldridge said. "It's fun for us to get dressed up and meet the kids. Our community rallies behind us, and they rally behind the men's team. It's a cool experience and an opportunity to be able to connect with them and try to give some of that back."
Hoops for a Cause is the Boys & Girls Clubs' largest fundraiser, with this year's event raising more than $160,000 for the local chapter, the most ever for the event.
"As a nonprofit organization, we go out and raise all our funds to be able to provide all of the programs and opportunities for kids," Livingston said. "The more money we can raise, the more kids we can serve in our after-school and summer program. Mizzou basketball directly helps us make that happen."