Rainbow Classic Celebrates Spirited Decade of Giving to Children’s Hospital

Behind the great basketball rivalry between the two Pittsford high schools is a powerful spirit of giving. This year’s Rainbow Classic fundraiser will celebrate its tenth year of giving to help children at Golisano Children’s Hospital at the University of Rochester Medical Center.

“The Rainbow Classic brings the Pittsford community together for a fun and energizing event that does a lot of good for the children in our region,” said Kim McCluski, who organizes the Rainbow Classic event along with the event’s founders, Brian and Barb Pasley, and Scott Barker, athletic director of the Pittsford Central School District.

The girls’ basketball teams from Pittsford Mendon and Pittsford Sutherland high schools go head-to-head at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 17, and the boys’ teams play immediately afterwards at 8 p.m.

Promotion efforts start well before the big games, with cheerleaders selling program advertising space to raise funds months in advance and events during Winter Spirit Week leading up to the Rainbow Classic. Over the years, students have celebrated with t-shirt days, hat days, skits in the cafeteria and an advertising push from students enrolled in business and marketing classes. A shortened scheduled Friday leaves room for a large pep rally that both schools participate in to get everyone fired up for the games.

The Rainbow Classic donates its proceeds to Katelyn’s Connection, a fund the Pasleys began from the event’s onset memory of their daughter Katie, which helps hospitalized children and their families stay connected with the world outside Golisano Children’s Hospital. The McCluskis began working on the Rainbow Classic event with the Pasleys in 2002, in memory of their son Ryan. To read more about the fund and how it benefits patients, please visit http://bit.ly/KatelynsConnection.

For tickets, which sell out quickly and are $7 each, please visit the main office at Pittsford Mendon or Pittsford Sutherland high schools. For more information on the Rainbow Classic, please contact the Pittsford Athletic Department at (585) 267-1062. To make a gift on behalf of the Rainbow Classic, call (585) 273-5948.