The West Squad Triumphs Over East in All-Star Football Game Benefitting Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC and The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

PITTSBURGH, PA - May 9, 2012 - The 2012 Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Association (PFSCA) East West All-Star Game sponsored by Fifth Third Bank was played Sunday at Gateway High School’s Antimarino Stadium, in which the West topped the East by the score of 45-24. Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC and The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia were the beneficiaries of the game.

With the strong win from the West squad, the All-Star Game trophy will proudly be on display at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC with the names of the players and coaches engraved on it for the year until next year’s matchup is played. 

The spring game, once an annual tradition, has been reinstituted to help recognize talented, young high school football players from across the state of Pennsylvania. In the new format, the game has turned into a true statewide competition and will alternate annually between western and eastern Pennsylvania. Next year’s game is tentatively slated to be played at Downingtown West High School, and will rotate between Gateway and Downingtown West in the future.

“The East West All-Star game is a terrific example of kids helping kids,” said Greg Barrett, president, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation. “We’re honored to have such a talented group of young athletes playing in our region for the hospital and look forward to displaying the winning trophy at Children’s this year and many more years to come.”

Each squad consisted of 34 high school seniors who represented some of the finest football talent in Pennsylvania. Homer Delattre of Corry High School served as the West Squad head coach and Joe Repshis from Abington Heights High School served as the East Squad head coach.

“Fifth Third Bank has a long-standing history of philanthropic giving as the first financial institution to establish a corporate foundation in 1948,” said Julie Hughes, Market President, Fifth Third Bank, Pennsylvania. “We are committed to the wellbeing of our community and we are pleased to help make an impact on the lives of those in the neighborhoods we serve through the support of the East/West All Star Game.”

Congressman Tim Murphy, a PhD psychologist who trained at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, tossed the coin for the kick-off. Congressman Murphy, whose 18th congressional district includes parts of Allegheny, Beaver, Washington and Westmoreland counties, has long been a champion of children’s health care issues.

The East West All-Star game was created in 2001 to help honor the long, rich tradition of high school football in Pennsylvania. Past players have gone on to play for college powerhouse teams such as University of Pittsburgh, Penn State University, University of Maryland, Ohio State, Notre Dame and the University of Michigan. 

For more information about Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC or to make a donation, visit Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation’s website at www.givetochildrens.org, or call the Foundation at 412-692-3900 or 1-877-CHP-GIVE.

Andrea Kunicky, 412-692-6254, andrea.kunicky@chp.edu
Marc Lukasiak, 412-692-7919, marc.lukasiak@chp.edu