The Steelers edged out a victory over the CV alumni squad

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ basketball team eked out a 75-74 victory over the Chartiers Valley alumni squad last month, but the real winners were the school district and the Nathan S. Arenson Fund for Pancreatic Cancer Research.

The game marked the 12th annual Hoops for a Cure event at Chartiers Valley, once again raising tens of thousands of dollars for cancer research. This year was slightly unusual, though, in that the charity gave something back to the school that has supported it for so long. The Arenson Fund awarded $1,000 scholarships to CV senior Michelle Malacki and CV alum Reni Monteverde, both of whom have made significant efforts for the cause.

“These two girls have been with the [Arenson] family, raising money for the past several years,” says Lynn Heasley, Future Life Experiences coordinator at the high school.

Reni Monteverde, a 2002 Chartiers Valley graduate, is now a student at Duquesne University. She usually sings the National Anthem at the Hoops event and also helps coordinate the annual fashion show (another Arenson Fund benefit), creating databases
and mailings.

Jenna DeMayo and Katie Kearney get an autograph from Steeler Jon Dekker

The other recipient is Michelle Malacki, a current Chartiers Valley senior. Michelle based her senior project on the fashion show and her work with the Hoops game. She also lived next door to Lisa Arenson Gillespie – daughter of Nathan Arenson – who worked tirelessly to raise money for the foundation named for her father, Nathan, who died from pancreatic cancer in 1995. Lisa passed away in 2005. “Every year we get more people involved,” says Jeff Hilty, Chartiers Valley School Board member and Arenson family friend.

Hilty grew up with Milt Arenson, Nathan’s son and Lisa’s brother. The two attended Chartiers Valley from grade school until graduation, he says. Hilty felt the effects of Nathan’s death on the entire family.

In the aftermath, they founded the Nathan S. Arenson Fund for Pancreatic Cancer Research, which supports cancer vaccine clinical trials conducted by Dr. Olivera Finn and her team at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute.

Over the years, “Hoops for a Cure” has metamorphosed and now involves several games, pitting teams of high school juniors and seniors against each other; the Section 4 All-Stars against the WPIAL All-Stars; and, of course, Chartiers Valley alumni and special guests taking on members of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

And now the fund is giving back to the school.

“The family created the scholarshipafter Lisa’s passing,” Lynn Heasley says.

“They wanted to honor her and continue the example she set.”

“They’re both kids that who Lisa personally, and we felt they emulate the kind of community service we want at Char Val,” Heasley says.