Charities gain from Midnight Madness

For IU basketball fans, tonight marks the kick-off of the 2003-2004 men's and women's basketball season. The event, known as Midnight Madness, is the first official practice of the season and open to the public starting at 10:45 p.m.\nFans are familiar with the kick-off celebration, but what many might not know is all proceeds coming from tonight's event go to local charities. Midnight Madness has no admission price; just one can of food gets you through the door. \n"(Midnight Madness) is the official tip-off to the basketball season and all proceeds go to Hoosier Hills Food Bank.," said Pete Rhoda, Assistant Media Relations director for men's basketball. \nHoosier Hills is a food-collecting agency that gathers food from distributors such as grocery stores, restaurants and community donations, which are then dispersed to different shelters and soup kitchens. Agencies that benefit from the collections are the Community Kitchen, Middle Way House and Mother Hubbard's Cupboard.\n"Everything donated gets used and the food collected from Midnight Madness will help keep Hoosier Hills stocked for the next two months," said Dan Taylor, assistant director for Hoosier Hills. \nHoosier Hills is part of the umbrella organization, United Way, which is a funding agency. Its main goal is raising money for agencies such as the Salvation Army, Red Cross, Middle Way and Hoosier Hills.\n"Our goal is to benefit agencies by doing some fundraising so the agencies can focus on their own mission," said Patty Boone, the communications director for United Way.\nAll food and money collected will come from admission, raffle ticket sales and from contests that go on during the evening.\n"At 12:01 the teams are introduced and throughout the evening there will be a slam dunk contest, a spot shot contest, a three-point contest and we'll conclude with a scrimmage game," Rhoda said. \nTaylor said Midnight Madness is a great way to welcome the next basketball season, but on a larger level, a way students and the community can make a difference in the Bloomington community with such a small gesture.\n"Midnight Madness is a way for individuals to get involved in the food drive," Taylor said. "This is our first major food drive since spring and if everyone just brings one can, they can help donate a lot of food that goes a long way."\n-- Contact staff writer Katie Killebrew at kpkilleb@indiana.edu