Eddie Meath All-Stars Raise Funds for Golisano Children’s Hospital Patients

For the past 30 years, the Eddie Meath all-star high school football game has brought together Section V’s best football players to face-off, East vs. West, to benefit Golisano Children’s Hospital at the University of Rochester Medical Center. The game generates more than $5,000 annually, garnered through a combination of ticket and t-shirt sales, donations from sponsors and donations collected at the game itself.

“Every year, we seem to make more,” said Section V Football Chairman Dick Cerone, “The cheerleaders can raise anywhere from $1,500 to $1,900 in just ten minutes in the stands.” Only the area’s best are able to play – athletes who were All-Greater Rochester, in leadership roles, or who were specifically nominated by their coaches.

“They’re all good athletes. It’s a good brand of football,” said Cerone.

But before the players set foot on the field, they’ll be taking time out of their schedules to meet the patients they are playing for. On Thursday, July 5, players and cheerleaders from both sides will be getting together with groups of patients at Golisano Children’s Hospital.

“It’s important because the students realize that the game isn’t about playing football but about helping kids get better,” said Betsy Findlay, the coordinator for the athletes’ visit to the hospital and director of Advancement at Golisano Children’s Hospital. Cerone shared this sentiment, and went on to say, “The kids realize they’re playing a game for the kids who can’t play.”

The players and cheerleaders will play Bingo and share ice cream with patients while handing out shirts, hats and toy footballs from their home high schools.

The Eddie Meath game will take place at 7 p.m., Saturday, July 7, at St. John Fisher College. Tickets are $6.

For more information please visit http://www.sectionv.org/football/eddiemeath/meathtitle.html.