When some 35 area college and high-school students took to the field of storied Rose Bowl stadium this past Saturday, they weren’t vying for a championship title. Rather, they were vying to champion a fundamentally important cause: raising money to benefit kids and teens, many of whom have endured unimaginable trauma, who receive vital mental health and other support services from Hathaway-Sycamores Child and Family Services.
These young men, led by University of Southern California sophomore and San Marino resident Brendan Doney, were participating in the ninth annual “Battle of the Bowl.” This flag-football fundraiser was created in 2004 by Brendan’s father, Todd Doney, who also resides in San Marino and serves on Hathaway-Sycamores’ Advisory Board of Directors. In 2011, Todd Doney, who is vice chairman of Los Angeles-headquartered CBRE, turned over the event’s reins to his son Brendan. Not only does Brendan possess pigskin expertise, having played four years at Los Angeles’ Loyola High School, including varsity quarterback, but he’s also a veteran volunteer.
This year’s event pit The Legends, quarterbacked by Brendan Doney, against The Stars. Members of both teams represented a mix of Doney’s USC fraternity brothers, along with former classmates from Loyola High School. When the final whistle sounded, The Legends emerged victorious by a score of 37 to 35.
A far more important number was $20,000, the 2015 Battle of the Bowl proceeds donated to Hathaway Sycamores. That brings the total raised through Battle of the Bowl, since its inception, to more than $270,000. In accepting the donation, Hathaway-Sycamores’ President and Chief Executive Officer William Martone said, “I thank you Brendan, as well as all of the players here today, for this much appreciated donation. It’s truly inspiring,” he added, “that young people like yourselves are motivated to help children and families who are going through very difficult times.”
In addition to benefitting Hathaway-Sycamores, the 2015 Battle of the Bowl also raised $20,000 that was donated to the Rose Bowl Legacy Campaign. Funds were raised by participating players and through the support of corporate sponsors, including Pasadena’s Western Asset Management, Los Angeles’ IDS Real Estate, along with individual sponsors Bill Phelps, Mark Sprague and John Zanetos.
The event also featured a halftime powder-puff football faceoff between The Class, headed by Brendan Doney’s sister, Faith, and The Sass. The more than 25 participating girls all attend Pasadena-area schools, including Flintridge Preparatory, La Salle, Mayfield Senior, and Sacred Heart. The Class shut out The Sass 8 to 0. More importantly, the girls raised $2,000 that was donated to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.
