Athletics - Women's Basketball

MOUNT VERNON — Cornell College surpassed its goal in a campus-wide fundraiser for Nothing But Nets, leaving head women’s basketball coach Brent Brase with nothing but stubble on his head.

“We had a modest goal to raise $750,” said Rev’d Catherine Quehl-Engel, Chaplain of the College. “As a challenge, coach Brase said he would be willing to get his head shaved.”

The college did its part by generating over $2,000 for a project designed to help end malaria-related deaths around the world. Brase followed through on his side of the deal by getting a close shave during halftime of Friday’s women’s basketball game with Mount Mary at the Small Multi-Sport Center. Brase’s sons Owen, 4, and Evan, 2, also had their heads shaved.

“We always like to do something every year community service wise,” said Brase, whose team helped with the fundraising project. “One of the reasons I did this is not only for my team, but for my little ones to see this.”

Several organizations on campus were involved in the fundraising effort, including SKYS, Hillel, Deep Water, STEP, the Roman Catholic Group and the Chaplain’s office, among others. A number of independent groups in the community also contributed to the project.

Nothing But Nets is a partnership with the United Methodist Church, The United Nations, NBAcares and Sports Illustrated. The proceeds will help purchase bed nets at $10 apiece to protect children from the mosquitoes that carry malaria. One bed net can safely last a family about four years, thanks to an insecticide woven into the net fabric. Malaria kills a child every 30 seconds around the world.

“President (Leslie) Garner and I came up with the idea and thought it would be good to explore. We wanted to do this as part of our church-relations gig and to extend care,” Quehl-Engel said. “I’m very proud of our students. We more than doubled our financial goal.”