FBITN Helps Union City Reach Breast Cancer Fundraising Goal
The Union City Golden Tornadoes team planned to simply wear pink socks and ribbons to support the fight against breast cancer. The local Farm Bureau Insurance office had bigger ideas.
Obion-Union City Agency Manager Hadley Malone offered to buy the team pink jerseys for the Oct. 18 game against rival Humboldt. The project soon grew into a community-wide outreach.
The Union City coaching staff was outfitted with Farm Bureau Insurance pink polos. Cheerleaders donned pink Farmer Charlie hats and threw pink footballs into the crowd. Pink ribbons were even painted on the field.
The football jerseys were auctioned after the game to raise money for Making Strides. Before the game, community businesses committed to donating an additional $5 above and beyond the auctioned off price of the jersey. Some businesses committed $10 extra.
The Union City Farm Bureau Insurance agency’s goal was to raise $2,500. After the jersey auction, the match from the businesses and other fundraising sales at the game, they exceeded their goal with a donation of more than $10,000.
“The whole pink-out night snowballed thanks to the efforts of our agents,” said Malone. “The school board was very supportive and the community caught on to the excitement.”
The excitement carried over to the scoreboard, too. In a 32-26 thriller, Union City gave Humboldt its first loss of the season.
Farm Bureau Insurance of Tennessee is the official statewide partner for the American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer campaign.
