Lauren's First and Goal founders to be given honorary degrees at Lafayette

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/easton/index.ssf/2012/05/laurens_first_and_goal_founder.html FROM THE EXPRESS TIMES As kickoff nears for the ninth annual Lauren's First and Goal Foundation charity football camp, founders John and Marianne Loose will receive honorary degrees at Lafayette College tonight. First and Goal raises money to fight childhood cancer. The Looses' daughter, Lauren, now 15, was diagnosed with nuerofibermitosis at nine months old. As the years went by, Lauren suffered more, from a malignant tumor in her spine and several strokes. “As we became more involved, we learned that pediatric cancer in general was significantly underfunded when it comes to research,” Marianne Loose said. They wanted to contribute, but didn't know how. The answer was in John Loose's passion: football. John is a coach at Lafayette, had a number of connections, and began hosting day camps to raise money. In 2004, they attracted 325 players and about 75 college coaches. From there, it has grown to become one of the largest one-day football camps in the country. In 2011, Marianne Loose said, they more than 1,900 players came from 30 states. “In the first eight years, we've raised over $1.5 million, over $1 million of which has gone to pediatric brain research and to support families directly,” she said. There are now two camps per year. One is June 3 at Lafayette College's Metzgar Field, where Penn State football head coach Bill O'Brien will be a featured guest. Another camp is June 17 in Ohio. The Looses will receive honorary doctorate degrees of public service during Lafayette's commencement tonight. First and Goal, Lafayette President Daniel Weiss said, "attests to the extraordinary difference that two humble, unassuming individuals can make when they decide to face an extreme personal challenge by embracing it as an opportunity to help others." He pointed to the team of volunteers and community supporters in the Lehigh Valley and across the nation, all pulled together by the work done by the Loose family, work that is, Weiss said, “enormously important – indeed, transformative.”