Cops & Cats Basketball
COPS and CATS – The History
The Cops and Cats Basketball program began in 1996 when the Hamilton Police Service joined forces with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and produced a basketball team consisting of sworn police officers and several Ticat players. They proceeded to challenge a number of the best high school teams in the city to competitive, fun basketball games. Money raised by this community event was always given to the individual school’s charity of choice (Interval House, the building of a school in the Dominican Republic, and the Good Sheppard, etc.) During the early years, the Cops and Cats team played an average of seven games per year. Since that time this program has grown dramatically in size.
Today’s program still involves the Tiger-Cats partnering with the Hamilton Police, but an important third member, the McMaster Children’s Hospital has joined the partnership. For the sixth straight year the program donates all monetary proceeds to the McMaster Children’s Hospital.
In 2005 there were 19 games played, which raised a total of $15,300.00. In 2006 the schedule was reduced to 12 games, but still managed to raise the same amount. The 2007 campaign saw the program raise a record $15,600.
To date, the program has donated a total of almost $70,000 to McMaster Children’s Hospital.
“The Hamilton Police Service is pleased to have our Cops and Cats Basketball program continue to grow and gain even more community support, but it is the opportunity the program creates to dialogue with our communities’ youth that is most important to us,” Police Chief Brian Mullan said at the kick-off of the 2008 program.
We also acknowledge the continued support of Chairman and Founder of Fox 40 International Inc., Ron Foxcroft, “I am proud to be a an ongoing partner and supporter of the efforts of the Hamilton Police Service, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and McMaster Children’s Hospital. I encourage community agencies to work together to support our City’s efforts and Charities for children.”
2008 Schedule
Ticats.ca: Cops and Cats Team Up Once again
Ticats TV: Cops and Cats Press Conference
