The Hillsborough Street Community Service Corporation has partnered with various Hillsborough Street businesses to help raise money for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund this month.

Yow spent 34 years as a coach at N.C. State and was consistently active in raising awareness for cancer research throughout her life.

The month of fundraising officially kicks off tonight with a Bowl 4 Kay event, held at the Alley, from 9 p.m. until midnight. There are a wide variety of events that will be happening throughout the month, including the annual Hoops 4 Hope basketball game, which takes place this Sunday at 5 p.m.

Anthony Baldinelli, who is helping with public relations for the events, said Hoops 4 Kay is one event that stands out to him personally.

“I graduated from N.C. State, so I enjoy giving back to that community. Hoops 4 Hope is really significant because that’s where it all started,” Baldinelli said.

In addition to working with various businesses on Hillsborough Street to put on events, the Corporation has also been working directly with Wolfpack Sports and the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. Jeff Murison, executive director for the Hillsborough Street Community Service Corporation, said he has been very happy with the partnerships.

“They’re all great partners. Very creative, very dedicated,” Murison said.

Murison said events like these give University students a chance to see Hillsborough Street as a place that fosters school spirit and unity.

“This type of thing hopefully helps build awareness of Hillsborough Street as a center for Wolfpack pride,” Murison said.

Megan Smith, a representative from the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, said these events are exciting because they promote cancer awareness in an interesting way.

“Events like these unify the community. It’s a really unique promotion, it’s the first one like this we have done,” Smith said.

The events that will be held this month include the 2012 4K 4 Kay, Karaoke 4 Kay and Play 4 Kay. Play 4 Kay is an ongoing event; it consists of Wii, Xbox, trivia, pool and corn hole tournaments held at the Brickhouse. The pool and corn hole tournaments are being held Feb. 18 at 4 p.m. The video games and trivia will be held on several nights, starting Feb. 12 at 9 p.m.

“We’re going to have some throwback old arcade games, like Donkey Kong, available to play,” Will Chriscoe, account executive for Wolfpack Sports marketing, said.

Chriscoe said partnering on these events has been a good way to honor the late Kay Yow.

“The late Kay Yow obviously played a huge role in N.C. State athletics. We owe it to her dedication and her time and effort to make this University a good place not just to play, but to be at, to do something like this,” Chriscoe said.

Smith said the support from the University and the town of Raleigh has been excellent for not only this event, but for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund as a whole.

“It’s been unbelievable. The support from not just N.C. State but from the Raleigh community as a whole for the foundation has been amazing,” Smith said.

One of the reasons events like these are important, according to Smith, is that cancer affects everyone in some way.

“Cancer is something, unfortunately, that touches all of us. Coach Yow was willing to be a platform for that cause,” Smith said.

Murison said one of the best parts about this particular fundraising effort is the wide variety of events they were able to offer.

“We are planning and providing a whole range of activities. It’s a good way to have fun while helping a good cause,” Murison said.