Thank you for your support of our 25th Annual Tourney Tip-Off Breakfast!
Our 25th Annual Tourney Tip-Off Breakfast- a spectacular program, a huge win in the fight against cancer, and a time to rock our favorite sneakers!
Thank you to our sponsors, including our presenting sponsor ACME Markets, guests, volunteers, and all of our generous supporters who joined us at the Palestra, raising over $80,000 to support the mission of the American Cancer Society. A special thank you to our Philly 6 Coaches Steve Donahue, Fran Dunphy, Billy Lange, Aaron McKie, Kyle Neptune and Zach Spiker, our emcee, NBC Sports Philadelphia's Amy Fadool, our special guests Mike Jensen, Monte Ross, and Dick Weiss and our honorees Dan Harrell and Neil French!
Join our free CvC Philly bracket!
This year's champion will get tickets to next year’s breakfast and most importantly, bragging rights. Did we mention it's free? Congrats to last year's top bracketologist, Jim Cooper! Sign up by Thursday, March 16 at noon ET!
Thank you to our talented event photographer, Sarah Webb!
Save the date to join us on the Palestra floor for next year's 26th Annual
Tourney Tip-Off Breakfast: Monday, March 11, 2024!
For more information contact Ali Gill at Ali.Gill@cancer.org or 215-446-5677
THANK YOU TO OUR 2023 SPONSORS
2024 Sponsorship Information Coming Soon!
Presented By:
Three Point Shot Sponsors
Cathy Miller Cancer Fund
Fox Chase Cancer Center
IBEW Local Union 98
Independence Blue Cross
The Philadelphia Eagles
PHL Sports
RDS Automotive Group
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Congratulations to our 2023 Honorees
The Dinsmore Award is given annually to an inspiring cancer survivor in the Philadelphia basketball community. We’re thrilled to be honoring Dan Harrell with this year’s Dinsmore Award.
Dan worked as a janitor at the Palestra from 1989 until he retired in 2012- describing it as the dream job for someone like him, who has been a Big 5 fan since grade school. He lovingly cared for the many players, coaches, and trainers who came through the
The Dinsmore Award- Dan Harrell
Palestra over the years, but took a special pride in maintaining that prestigious playing floor. Dan remembers being involved with the first Tourney Tip-Off Breakfast we hosted at the Palestra. Working to cover every inch of the floor to protect it from any accidental scuffs or coffee spills. His love for the historic basketball arena and university earned him the fitting title “Palestra Dan.”
After retiring in 2012, Dan wrote The Other Woman, a tribute to his time at the Palestra.
In September of 2021, Dan was diagnosed with rectal cancer. After months of treatment and a successful surgery in August 2022, Dan is making a slow but sure recovery with the help of family, friends, and the caring cancer center team at his beloved University of Pennsylvania.
We’re so excited to honor Palestra Dan’s commitment to the Philadelphia sports community and his cancer survivorship at this year’s Tourney Tip-Off Breakfast!
The Speedy Morris Service Award- Neil French
The Speedy Morris Service Award is given annually to a volunteer who embodies Speedy's commitment to Coaches vs. Cancer and the Philadelphia sports community. We’re thrilled to be honoring Neil French with this year’s Speedy Morris Service Award at our 25th Anniversary Coaches vs. Cancer Tourney Tip-Off Breakfast!
Neil French is currently the Assistant Principal at Maple Point Middle School in Langhorne, PA and the Defensive Coordinator of the Neshaminy High School football program.
In March of 2014, Neil and his team at Maple Point joined the Coaches vs. Cancer School & Youth Initiative with a boys' basketball doubleheader that featured just a few raffle prizes and a small concession stand. A ceremony was held before the games to show support for members of the school community battling cancer and honor the memory of those lost during that school year. Neil and his team saw the raw emotion and inspirational impact of that night and have never looked back.
Between 2014-2022, the Maple Point community has raised over $108,000 for the fight against cancer at this now sold-out event which has become a significant part of the school’s identity and culture. Currently, Neil’s CvC efforts are fueled by the courage and toughness of
his father, Neil Sr., who is currently being treated for kidney cancer right here in Philadelphia, and the memory of his father-in-law, Jim Dawson, who passed away in November 2021 after a valiant fight against Lymphoma.
Neil graciously and humbly accepts this recognition on behalf of the Maple Point staff, students and community.