ATLANTA—Holy Spirit Preparatory School’s Lady Cougars basketball team, in partnership with the schools’ varsity cheerleaders, hosted the second annual Cougars Care Pink basketball game to benefit Saint Joseph’s Mercy Care Services on Friday, Feb. 1. Initiated by the 2012 basketball captains with head coach Jada Jordan, the annual event celebrates Lady Cougar basketball and honors Holy Spirit Prep’s tradition of service and giving.

Plans and fundraising efforts that began before Christmas culminated with a full day of “Pink” activities at the school with the girls raising a record $2,500 to donate to Saint Joseph’s Mercy Care. Activities included a pink “dress down” opportunity in exchange for a contribution. Students could shed their standard school uniforms in favor of Pink Game commemorative T-shirts or other pink attire. Lunch included bake sales and catering by the Varsity’s big red mobile truck and the Lady Cougar varsity and junior high cheerleaders. The basketball players also conducted Pink pep rallies at Holy Spirit Prep’s three campuses.

Varsity basketball captains Emily Browning, foreground left, and Aimee Sinks, foreground right, make a monetary presentation to St. Joseph Mercy Care following the Feb. 1 PINK Game.

On the evening of the game, Holy Spirit Prep’s Cougar Den was packed as pink-clad fans turned out in record numbers to cheer on the home team Lady Cougars. Eddie the Cougar mascot joined the cheerleaders in wearing special pink uniforms for the occasion. The fans were not disappointed as the Lady Cougars defeated The Heritage School of Newnan 35-26. The victory lifted the team to a perfect 9-0 season in Georgia Independent School Association (GISA) region play and ensured a school record first-place finish in regular season play. Selina Kelete led the Lady Cougars with 13 points, 7 rebounds and 5 steals. Sarah Cocks added 8 points, 7 rebounds and 5 steals, and Emily Browning grabbed 11 rebounds.

Following the game, a big pink commemorative check was presented to Bonnie Hardage, president of Saint Joseph’s Mercy Foundation. “The leadership and teamwork demonstrated by the Lady Cougars is tremendous. The Pink Game partnership is the perfect example of putting mercy in action for those most in need of healthcare services in our community. Mercy Care couldn’t realize its mission of providing medical, dental and vision care to more than 11,000 poor and homeless individuals without support from organizations like Holy Spirit Prep School,” said Hardage.

“The Pink Game is a celebration of our transformation over the last few years. To see the stands full of loud, cheering fans made me very proud. The Pink Game allows us to spotlight our program while serving others, which is the overall mission of Holy Spirit Prep,” said fifth-year coach Jordan.