How the Utah Jazz win in more ways than one with each W

With every win the Utah Jazz grab during the 2018-19 season, it means more than just putting a W in the win column. It also helps raise money for cancer.

Throughout the course of the 2018-19 NBA season, each win the Utah Jazz put in the win column means more than just racking up another victory.

During the regular season, for every win Utah grabs also helps raise awareness and money for a foundation that is a big part of the organization, focused around finding a cure for cancer.

Prior to the start of the 2017-18 season, Utah announced it was adding a patch to the front of its jerseys, which has become a league-wide occurrence over the past few years.

The Jazz decided to partner with Qualtrics, a Utah-based software company, to help raise awareness for the company’s charity for cancer research named 5 For The Fight, a global campaign that aims to motivate everybody to donate $5 to cancer research.

This season, with every win the Jazz earn, that awareness — and ultimately dollar amount — grows in the Utah area and beyond.

Other than getting a victory to help raise awareness for cancer research, Utah is also giving back to fans who donate by giving away donation-based prizes throughout the year:

• For every $1 a person pledges per Jazz win, that person will receive an exclusive Jazz/5 For The Fight picture via email with a personal thank you.
• For every $3 a person pledges per Jazz win, that person receives an invitation for two for an exclusive on-court event at Vivint Smart Home Arena.
• For every $5 a person pledges per Jazz win, that person receives two invites to an exclusive event and two tickets to a Jazz home game.

Along with the Jazz putting cancer at the forefront of both their jerseys and their organization, the disease that has impacted many across the world has deep meaning for Utah point guard Ricky Rubio.

Rubio has had multiple people in his life who he is close to pass away due to cancer. His mom lost her battle with lung cancer in 2016, which also sparked Rubio to start up his own foundation to raise awareness for lung cancer. He also lost his grandmother when he was 10, his grandfather when he was 12, as well as others, all to cancer.

Over a year ago, when Utah announced its new jersey patch, Rubio took on another role outside of being a floor general on the court for the Jazz. He was named a key ambassador for the 5 For The Fight campaign, which has helped in persuading Jazz fans and others to donate to the important cause.

Overall this season, the 5 For The Fight campaign has raised just under $12,000, according the website fans can donate to. Entering Monday’s action, Utah currently holds a 20-20 record, stringing a few consecutive wins together in the last couple of contests to sit in the No. 9 spot in the Western Conference standings.

For some NBA teams, the jersey patch sponsor is another way to create revenue for the organization, along with creating exposure for the company that is displayed. But for the Jazz, the patch they wear on the front left corner of their jerseys means a little bit more this season.