To raise awareness and support for the Rockville Centre Breast Cancer Coalition, a nonprofit outreach program that provides financial and emotional support for local residents diagnosed with breast cancer, the Titans youth football program will host its first-ever Moms’ flag-football game fundraiser on Sunday, Oct. 27.
This unprecedented display of community spirit, spearheaded by Jessica Bifulco and Lisa Guerriero, has already surpassed expectations with an overwhelming response from the community. In just a short time, the organization raised $7,500 not accounting for additional fundraising efforts including a bake sale and 50/50 raffles.
“If we do as well as we hope, we’re looking to break $10,000,” Dana Lozito, one the Titans organization’s founders said.. “One hundred percent of the funds will go to the Rockville Centre Breast Cancer Coalition.”
Lozito founded the Rockville Centre Titans football program with her husband and coach, Bill Lozito, after learning that their two sons would have to travel outside the village to participate in a youth football league. It is an entirely volunteer-led organization dedicated to helping young athletes by developing life skills both on and off the field.
Currently in its 10th season, the Titans help kids by building character, instilling positive values, and creating lifelong memories.
“The lessons you learn on the field, between the mental and physical grind during practices and games, getting tackled and getting back up again, relates to the tools they need to preserve in life as well,” Lozito said. “Football is different from other sports. Everybody has to be doing their job and working together on every play in order to be successful.”
The inaugural Moms flag football event struck a deeply personal chord within the Titans community, which serves 275 families across Rockville Centre. Among those, an impressive 115 moms have signed up to participate in the five scheduled games to help raise money and awareness in the fight against breast cancer.
“When we put this out there, we learned there are several moms in our program who have been personally affected by breast cancer who we’re going to be honoring that day,” Lozito explained.
Laura Altman, whose boys have been a part of the Titans program, serves on the board of the coalition and has been a driving force behind the initiative.
“The Rockville Centre Breast Cancer Coalition has allowed me to give back after my own breast cancer diagnosis eight years ago. The support from family and friends in the community during that difficult time was incredible,” Altman said. “Now, through the RVCBCC we can help other women dealing with their own breast cancer diagnosis, to know that they are not alone.”
Altman added that the Coalition is continually blown away from the support in the community.
Working in collaboration with Guerriero, who has experience with hosting fundraisers for different organizations, and Bifulco, who recently took over organizational responsibilities with the Titans, all three have been instrumental in bringing this event to life.
The day’s schedule has been carefully planned, with youth tackle games starting at 9 a.m. and continuing until 3 p.m. leading up to the Mom’s Flag game, which will kick off at 3:30 p.m. on the main field at South Side High School. Titans coaching staff will be serving as coaches and referees during the games.
“It’s going to be a huge event,” Lozito said. The afternoon will feature five games, with Bill Lozito serving as emcee. Following the games, participants are invited back to Centre Station to celebrate their efforts.
“We are excited that the moms get to be involved in something fun,” Lozito said, highlighting how the event will give mothers a chance to be in the spotlight rather than cheering on the sidelines.
The efforts of the Titans organization go beyond just this single event. In recent years, the team has donned pink socks, towels, stickers and bracelets to show their commitment to the cause. While the Titans have made significant contributions to breast cancer organizations in the past, raising $1,800 last year from a bake sale. This year’s efforts are the team’s largest and most ambitious undertaking to date.
The inaugural Moms’ Flag Football Game represents more than just a fundraiser — it’s a testament to the power of the Titans family and community coming together for a cause.
“This is the perfect example of the community reaching out to us and giving back,” Peg McDonald, co-president of the Rockville Centre Breast Cancer Coalition, said. “The Titans moms put together this nice, different and fun event and I hope it is well attended.”
The game will take place on the same weekend as the big homecoming game between South Side High School and Manhasset. Before the game, members of the RVC Titans will march in the annual homecoming parade, alongside the varsity team, whose players also came up through the organization.
According to Lozito, in the spirit of giving back, ten of the boys’ varsity football players have been lending a hand with the 5- and 6-year-old flag football program that plays on Sunday afternoons.
The RVC Titans is a nonprofit volunteer organization, which plays in the Nassau County Youth Football League. In recent years it has grown from five teams to nine and serves more than 200 youth athletes aged 7-12 in their tackle program and 85 athletes aged 5-6 in the flag football program.
To learn more about the Titans organization visit RVCTitans.com, and for more ways you can help support the Breast Cancer Coalition visit RVCBCC.org.