Motivated by their shared love for volleyball and their passion to make an impact, Reem Faqi (‘28), Sarah Tang (‘28), and Karen Lara (‘28) organized a volleyball tournament in the Walton Center to raise money through DigPink for breast cancer. The tournament began on January 30th, when the first two teams competed, continued on February 6th for teams three and four, and will end on February 12th for the finalists.
The Sideout Foundation is a nonprofit organization that helps people create fundraisers, ranging from virtual fundraising to in-person events. Dig Pink is a volleyball initiative by The Sideout Foundation that brings together players, patients, and communities to raise awareness and funds for metastatic breast cancer.
Aligned with DigPink’s mission, the varsity girls’ volleyball team participates each year in a Pink Out tournament during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. For the 2025-2026 season, the tournament was held at Orange Glen High School, where all participants wore pink in support of those affected and symbolized strength.
“Being able to support breast cancer awareness and the foundation itself is very important because it applies to half of our population,” says Mr. Hua, who was an advisor for the volleyball tournament. Many people, such as mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends, are affected directly or indirectly, making support a shared responsibility. As it impacts a large portion of society, awareness, fundraising, and research are especially important.
Tang came across DigPink on social media. After volleyball season ended, she felt the volleyball community needed to grow stronger before next year’s tryouts approached. Along with Faqi and Lara, the three began planning the tournament in November. After learning about the foundation’s mission and goal, they decided it was something they wanted to bring to the school.
“Volleyball brings people together to do what they love, and being able to raise money for research and awareness empowers me so I can reach for more,” expressed Tang (‘28).
The tournament has attracted not only volleyball players, but also many fans. The school has never hosted a fundraiser like this before, and many students were curious and eager to attend. The turnout on the first day surprised both the organizers and the advisor, who were uncertain how many people would show up. The support from the fans during the first day encouraged many people to register to play in the next games.
“If there is something you enjoy doing, make sure to turn your hobby into something bigger, while helping others benefit too,” said Faqi (‘28).
The organizers hope to make it a tradition that future volleyball players will continue after they graduate
“If you work as a team, and have people that support you, the sky is the limit…and when you work together, magic can happen,” added Mr. Hua.
