Teens Support Teens at Children's Hospital with Annual Rainbow Classic

Tickets for the basketball event are on sale for $10 and can be purchased at the main office of the Pittsford Mendon or Pittsford Sutherland high schools, as well as the Pittsford Athletic Office.

Since its inception in 2000, the Rainbow Classic games have always sold out. Basketball fans and Golisano Children’s Hospital supporters fill the bleachers to cheer on their favorite team, as well as our sick and injured patients. In over a decade, proceeds from ticket and program sales, and concessions, have help raised more than $300,000 for the Finger Lakes region’s only children’s hospital.

The Rainbow Classic was created in memory of Katelyn Pasley and Ryan McCluski, two Pittsford students who received care at Golisano Children’s Hospital.While the Pasley and McCluski families have been instrumental in determining what the funds support, they are quick to give the fundraising credit to the students, athletes, and community.

“Everyone is always excited when another Rainbow Classic comes around,” said Kim McCluski. “It’s more than just the rivalry between the two schools; it’s meaningful for all involved to be a part of something as important as Golisano Children’s Hospital. More often than not, the students and athletes have a personal connection to the hospital. They truly enjoy being a part of the cause, especially with the anticipation of the new building.”

To kick off Friday’s Rainbow Classic, the first games of the schools’ basketball seasons, Sutherland and Mendon will each hold an afternoon pep rally. In previous years, Katelyn and Ryan’s siblings and friends have been in the audience, but this year will be the first of 14 years that participants will be made up of a different generation and will, therefore, be newly introduced to the meaning behind giving to the children’s hospital.

“The pep rally really gives us the perfect outlet to share the message of why the games benefit the children’s hospital and to reiterate the opportunity the kids have to make a difference in their own community,” said Brian Pasley.

In the past, proceeds from the games have benefited the Child and Adolescent Eating Disorders Program, raising nearly $50,000 for one of the priority programs of the children’s hospital’s $100 million campaign. Funds have also supported the construction of a patient room in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, as well as laptop computers, part of a program created in honor of Katelyn Pasley known as Katelyn’s Connection, that helped patients better communicate with friends and families.Katelyn’s influence continues with the hospital’s GetWellNetwork, in which patients can access the outside world with games, movies, internet access and more through a program on the televisions in their hospital room.

Being able to contribute to the aesthetics of the Teen Lounge is special for students because they know patients using the space will be their age and could share their interests. Both schools’ art departments hope to be involved with designing pieces and using photos from the Rainbow Classic games to display on the walls of the lounge, making it even more personal.

“Pittsford Athletics has always had a strong community service philosophy,” said Director of Athletics Scott Barker. “The Rainbow Classic is one of many opportunities students and athletes have to give back, but this one has a particularly significant impact.”