University of Arizona women’s basketball assistant coach Calamity McEntire approached head coach Niya Butts with an idea.
After seeing cold water challenges sweeping the different social media outlets, McEntire thought it would be a good idea to challenge the different coaches around the Pac-12 to see if they would do it.
Butts then proposed that they package the challenge with a monetary value. If the challenge wasn’t met by a coach, they would have to donate money to the Kay Yow Foundation for the fight against women’s cancer. If an athlete failed to meet the challenge, they would have to do five community service hours. In just 13 days, the Chillin4Charity project has spread all across the country including to the University of Oregon.
Butts caught up with the Emerald earlier this week to talk about the success of the project.
Do you have a count on the money raised and the community service hours totaled up to this point?
“We don’t know right now. It’s just happening so fast we don’t have a count yet. At the end of it all, when it all kind of slows down or stops or whatever is going to happen with it, we’ll total it then. I certainly feel that if everyone commits to their promise of doing the challenge, I think it’ll be a pretty good outcome for the Kay Yow Foundation.”
Did you foresee Chillin4Charity taking off like it has?
“Honestly, I didn’t. I can’t even say I did. I thought hopefully a couple coaches would go with it, but I had no idea that it would now cross over to softball, cross over to football, the WNBA. I know a couple NBA guys were called out. I don’t know if they’ve faced the challenge yet, but it’s been this very big wildfire that happens to be cold.”
Was it hot outside when you first recorded the video? Was it refreshing at all?
“It was warm, I mean this is Arizona. We filmed it in the morning, but it was still warm outside. I don’t care how hot it is — wherever you are — it doesn’t matter. That water is so cold, it’s going to take your breath away. You can say what you want, but it’s cold.”
Have you talked with any other coaches or players across the country about this project?
“The coaching community has been great on Twitter, on Facebook. Some people will even say in their video, ‘Thank you to Arizona basketball for starting this,” or what have you. The response has been great and everyone’s support has been outstanding and we appreciate it dearly.”
Do you think that because it’s for the Kay Yow foundation and almost everyone has been affected by cancer in some way, that might be the reason why it’s spread so fast?
“Absolutely. Cancer affects all of us. In one way or another we all know someone who has had cancer or who has been affected by it.”
Follow Joseph Hoyt on Twitter @jhoyt42