Sports
CAT Volleyball Fundraiser Marks 15th Year with Record-Breaking Turnout and New Legacy Initiative
CAT Volleyball Fundraiser Annual event hosted by NOVUS Clothing raises over $50K for cancer support and youth empowerment
LATHAM — What started as a casual backyard volleyball tournament between brothers has grown into one of the Capital Region’s most anticipated grassroots fundraisers.
The 15th annual CAT Volleyball Fundraiser, hosted by NOVUS Clothing Company, brought hundreds of players, volunteers, sponsors, and supporters together in Latham for a day of competition, community, and cause, raising more than $50,000 for charitable efforts.
The event, organized by the Bernardo family and spearheaded by NOVUS founders Jonathan and Chris Bernardo, drew 22 volleyball teams across two brackets: Competitive and Just for Fun. LVC clinched the win in the competitive bracket, while Best Fitness topped the recreational side. Players walked away with custom-made trophies and cases of Saratoga Water, but it was the sense of purpose that kept teams returning to the sand.
Held last month, the fundraiser included food trucks, a 360-degree photo booth, and appearances from familiar mascots, including the University at Albany Great Dane and SouthPaw of the Tri-City ValleyCats. Brand ambassadors and professional athletes Joseph Girard III and Phil Daru joined in the festivities, connecting with attendees and signing merchandise.
But the heart of the event beat strongest during a moment of tribute. For the first time, organizers introduced the “Crown of Courage” award, a recognition honoring an individual in the NOVUS community facing life-altering adversity with resilience and grace.
The inaugural recipient, Jessica Bernardo — a Clifton Park native, fitness enthusiast, and mother of three — was honored as she undergoes treatment for breast cancer. Her strength and spirit inspired the creation of the “Claim Your Crown Foundation,” a newly launched NOVUS initiative aimed at supporting cancer patients and empowering youth through athletics.
“We wanted to take the purpose behind CAT and evolve it into something lasting,” said Jonathan Bernardo, who helped establish the fundraiser in memory of family members lost to cancer. “This year, the story became deeply personal again — and from that, a new legacy has emerged.”
The funds raised will support three key missions: donations to the American Cancer Society, funding youth athletic camps in the Dominican Republic, and establishing a financial assistance program for individuals navigating the costs and burdens of cancer treatment.
Corporate sponsorships played a major role in the event’s success. Contributions from the Robert & Lisa Moser Family Foundation, Chick-fil-A, Mazzone Hospitality, and others helped underwrite costs and increase fundraising impact. Participants were also able to shop an exclusive CAT15 apparel collection, with all proceeds going toward the foundation’s efforts.
Since its inception, the CAT Volleyball Fundraiser has become more than a tournament. It’s a call to action for young people, families, and athletes to rally around something greater — building what NOVUS describes as “a movement rooted in purpose.”
