INDIANA, Pa. – When IUP men's basketball head coach Joe Lombardi commits to something, he goes all in. One of the winningest active coaches in NCAA Division II carried that approach beyond the basketball court this summer, raising more than $26,000 for the Evergreen After School program and earning the honor of kissing a pig at the Indiana County Fair on Tuesday, Sept. 1.
Lombardi did not just win the fundraising competition — he shattered the event's five-year fundraising record previously set by Chris Adams.
Lombardi and his supporters raised more than $26,000 for Evergreen, with the fundraising effort bringing together members of the IUP and Indiana communities throughout the summer.
The longtime IUP coach recruited numerous figures from across the university, including fellow Crimson Hawk coaches, to join the effort and help raise money for a program he is passionate about supporting.
"We are incredibly proud of the way the IUP Athletics community came together to support Coach Lombardi and a cause that means so much to him and the Indiana community. The response from our coaches, staff, student-athletes and supporters speaks to what IUP Athletics is all about — supporting one another and making a positive impact beyond competition. We are proud of Coach Lombardi's commitment to this cause and grateful to everyone who helped make this effort so successful," stated IUP Director of Athletics Todd Garzarelli.
The Evergreen After School program provides free after-school and summer programming for students throughout Indiana and Armstrong counties and has served the area for more than 20 years.
According to Evergreen, current funding for the program is scheduled to end in September 2027, making community support increasingly important to its future. Fundraising efforts such as Lombardi's will help provide additional resources as Evergreen works to continue serving children and families throughout the region.
Lombardi's record-setting campaign adds another chapter to his impact on the Indiana community, this time extending well beyond the basketball court.
