Local lacrosse teams join together for fundraiser
Mt. Lebanon, Upper St. Clair, Peters Township and Bethel Park are among the fiercest rivals in scholastic sports, but on April 19 their girls lacrosse teams will set their differences aside as they raise dough for the One Love Foundation.
Twenty percent of the proceeds sold from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Toss Pizza and Wings will be donated to the organization. Additionally, the owners of the pizza shop, located at 145 McMurray Road in Upper St. Clair, will contribute $500 to the fundraising efforts.
“It is not often we all come together to help raise money and awareness for a great cause,” said Lebo head coach Brian Kattan. “I can’t begin to explain what a great foundation this is and what great work they do in memory of a wonderful young lady.”
One Love Foundation was founded in honor of Yardley Love, who was the heart and soul of the University of Virginia women’s lacrosse team. At age 22 and three weeks shy of graduating from the university, she lost her life, beaten to death by her ex-boyfriend.
The shock of finding her daughter May 3, 2010, haunts Sharon Love. She sometimes worried that an injury on the field would harm her daughter but she thought it impossible or unimaginable that her partner would hurt her.
“I didn’t know then what I know now, that relationship abuse is a public health epidemic and that young women in Yeardley’s age group are at three times greater risk than any other demographic,” she said.
Today, One Love educates young people about healthy and unhealthy relationships, empowering them to identify and avoid abuse and learn how to love better. Visit: https://www.joinonelove.org to learn more about the non-profit organization.
Of the local lacrosse club’s fundraising efforts Kattan said, “It’s a great opportunity for our communities to come together and raise money for a very good and important cause and foundation.”
Customers making purchases April 19 should mention the flyer being passed out by the local lacrosse teams when ordering for delivery or when picking up their food products. The donation does not apply when ordering slices or when delivery services such as Uber Eats, Doordash or Grubhub are used. Sales tax is excluded.