Marching bands, cheerleaders, and mascots from rival schools USC and UCLA converged on City National Plaza in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday (October, 21st) united under one cause: beating cancer. The rally marked the kick-off of Kure It Cancer Research’s annual Rivals United for a Kure campaign, which brings Bruins and Trojans together to raise funds for innovative cancer research. Rivals United for a Kure Rally 2015 from USStorageCenters on Vimeo. Since 2012, Rivals United for a Kure has raised over $1,000,000 and has pledged another $500,000 for 2016. The donations go directly to innovative research at UCLA and USC’s comprehensive cancer centers. Last year’s record setting efforts, thanks to the amazing support of many volunteers and businesses, produced a $500,000 grant which was presented to the Trojans and Bruins at this year’s rivalry baseball game! US Storage Centers founder and Chairman Barry Hoeven, who also founded Kure It, was on hand for the rally along with sports alumni Paul McDonald (USC QB 1978 - '79), Matt Stevens (UCLA QB 1985 - '86), and James Kaprielian (UCLA Pitcher 2012 - '15). The energy at the rally was palpable, and it brought out an amazing crowd of supporters and onlookers from the surrounding skyscrapers. Kure It volunteers were selling t-shirts, raffle tickets, and had giveaways. Everyone enjoyed performances from both schools, along with free hot dogs generously provided by LA’s legendary hot dog stand, Pink’s. Donating to Rivals United for a Kure Those looking to join in this amazing cause are able to do so by making a donation through the crowdfunding website Crowdrise. Supporters are also encouraged to purchase a ticket to this year’s gala, which will be held Sunday, Nov, 22, 2015 at City Club Los Angeles, in Downtown LA. Notable sports alumni, including Heisman-winning USC QB Matt Leinart and New York Yankees 2015 first-round draft pick James Kaprielian, will be in attendance for an evening of hope, vision, school spirit and collaborative accomplishment. How it All Began There are many people who have been affected by cancer in one way or another, including our founder Barry Hoeven. He was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 1998 while on a family vacation. In the ensuing years of treatment, including countless visits to various doctors and specialists, he discovered that many types of cancer receive little or no money for research, including kidney cancer. Soon after his diagnosis, it became clear that there was a need for a nonprofit cancer research organization dedicated to providing direct and immediate funding to support the brightest minds in translational research for underfunded cancers. In April of 2007, Hoeven partnered with City of Hope to create a fund which evolved into the formation of Kure It, an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Hoeven also envisioned the opportunity to involve US Storage Centers facilities and their customers in the fight to make cancer a disease of the past. Shortly thereafter he established ‘Round Up for Research’, a program that allows customers at participating facilities to donate $0.50, with each donation being matched 100% by US Storage Centers. Today, thanks to generous contributions from an amazing community of supporters, Kure It has raised over $4 million—an amazing accomplishment! To join in this effort please visit the US Storage Centers Crowdrise page. And please visit rivalsunitedforakure.org to stay up to date on upcoming events and news.
