WVU Today
The first livestreamed Bob Huggins Fish Fry raised $500,000 to benefit the Norma Mae Huggins Endowment at the WVU Cancer Institute and the Remember the Miners organization.
The annual Fish Fry was Feb. 26, via livestream to ensure the health and safety of participants amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Supporters had the opportunity to participate in virtual live and silent auctions, a raffle and star-studded segments. Tony Caridi, multiple-time West Virginia Sportscaster of the Year, served as emcee.
More than 1,000 people from across the country — from as far as California, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Florida and New Jersey — tuned in to view the Fish Fry live. The event was streamed from Triple-S Harley-Davidson in Morgantown and presented by Little General Stores. Coach Bob Huggins, head coach of men’s basketball at WVU, was joined by a lineup of guests, including Dave Portnoy, Rich Rodriguez, Fran Fraschilla, Da’Sean Butler and others.
Tributes were also featured, including a segment during which Huggins shared the story of his first connection with Remember the Miners and the origins of the fish fry.
“Whether you joined us from near or far, I want to thank all those who supported the fish fry this year. It is absolutely incredible that, despite the pandemic, we raised over half a million dollars to support our causes,” Huggins said. “I appreciate all of our participants and sponsors for making this benefit possible.”
The Norma Mae Huggins Endowment was established in 2003 by Huggins in honor of his mother, who died after a long battle with colon cancer. The endowment has raised over $7 million in support of cancer research and care at the WVU Cancer Institute.
“We rely on the generosity of supporters to fund critical and practical needs related to this essential service provided by the WVU Cancer Institute to the state of West Virginia. There is no one more passionate about supporting the WVU Cancer Institute and its mission to provide high quality of care to as many West Virginias as possible than Bob Huggins,” Dr. Hannah Hazard-Jenkins, director of the WVU Cancer Institute, said. “We are grateful for Bob Huggins’ generosity of time and advocacy and for the donors who support him and the WVU CI with the fish fry.”
Remember the Miners is a nonprofit public awareness campaign committed to telling the story of America’s real source of energy: The coal miner. Remember the Miners tells the story through events, media and its flagship Scholars Program. The Scholars Program has raised $150,000 and funds scholarships for mining engineering students in the Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources at West Virginia University.
To donate to the Norma Mae Huggins Endowment, contact Cory Chambers, director of annual giving for the WVU Cancer Institute, at CChambers@wvuf.org.
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