The Past
Cancer Pucks first started as a University of Toledo student organization called Dropping the Puck on Cancer, or DTP, in 2016. Founded by a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon – Ohio Nu, DTP adopted the American Brain Tumor Association as its philanthropy. Its first event was held at Ottawa Park ice rink, raising about $500. Continuing to gain fans and traction over the years, Dropping the Puck on Cancer moved its venue to Tam-O-Shanter in Sylvania, Ohio in 2019 and raised over $17,000.
After the 2019 Tournament, DTP’s growth started to become limited by student organization regulations set by the University. Therefore, the organization underwent an entire re-branding process and filed for 501(c)3 non-profit status. Now known as Cancer Pucks, the organization continues to host an annual hockey tournament to raise funds for the American Brain Tumor Association. Cancer Pucks provides career and personal development for University of Toledo students and Alumni as well as a positive presence on campus.
The Present
Currently we hold one main annual event; the hockey tournament. The tournament is held every Fall collegiate semester and teams consist of University of Toledo fraternity brothers and players from the UToledo club hockey team. Our main revenue comes from corporate sponsorships, public donations and ticket sales, which is why we rely on readers such as yourselves to get involved!
The Future
With new management brings new goals. Our Senior Vice President board has been designing and planning new events to broaden our markets. High school students, members of the community, more brain cancer survivors and patients are just the beginning of our outreach program.
A development program for our volunteers is also in the works. We want to not only uplift the American Brain Tumor Association but the students putting in the work to make it happen. This program will be unique to each area of Cancer Pucks, giving our volunteers individualized career-building learning opportunities to take back to the classroom and beyond. Not many University of Toledo student organizations can say the same!
Hockey brings people together. This concept is prominent in the City of Toledo when you attend a Toledo Walleye game in the Huntington Center; there is no fan base quite like it. Building on this rich history of a hockey town, Cancer Pucks seemed to be a no-brainer. Why not take a love for sports and a love for philanthropy and combine the two? Buy a ticket and come see for yourself.