ISP Scores a Win for College Athletic Leader and Program

It's not even March Madness, but the love for basketball is obviously strong all year round in Kentucky.

Internet services provider Windstream, which also offers phone and digital TV services, is showing its love for University of Kentucky basketball and new coach, John Calipari, shown here, with a new Web site and a "Pass it Forward" charity program that benefits the coach's foundation, the Calipari Family Foundation for Children.

"Windstream has a proud history of giving back to the communities we serve just like Coach Cal," said Brian Harman, division vice president for Windstream in Kentucky, in a press statement. "We are excited to extend our partnership with the coach and UK Athletics in this unique way."

Pass It Forward invites UK fans to upload a video, between now and December 14, that illustrates some unique way to pass a basketball. Windstream will donate $10 for every video contribution, up to a maximum of $10,000, to the Calipari foundation.

Windstream is also giving one lucky fan a chance to win $10,000 by making a half-court shot at halftime of the University of Kentucky men's basketball game against Florida on March 7, 2010. If the fan sinks the shot, the ISP will kick in an additional $10,000 to the Calipari Foundation. The fan will be chosen in a random drawing from the video entries.

The new Web site also featues video "pep talks" from Calipari, as well as wallpaper downloads for the UK fan base.

Photo courtesy of Windstream