Chuck Cooper Foundation

Happy Father’s Day to all of the amazing fathers we celebrate today, those still walking beside us and those whose love, lessons, and legacy continue to guide us from above.

At the Chuck Cooper Foundation, we know that legacy is built through sacrifice, example, courage, and love. Today, we honor the fathers, grandfathers, mentors, and father figures who continue to inspire the next generation.

To the fathers with us and the fathers watching over us, your legacy lives on.

Honor • Inspire • Empower

The Chuck Cooper Foundation was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Ray Goss, one of the truly great and enduring voices in college basketball and a beloved part of Duquesne basketball history.

For 58 seasons, Ray served as the Voice of the Dukes, a remarkable legacy that made him one of the most respected and enduring figures in college basketball broadcasting.

We were proud to present Ray with a Chuck Cooper Foundation Centennial Award at our Centennial Gala in celebration of Chuck Cooper’s life and legacy. Although Ray was unable to attend in person because of his accident, his daughter, Christine Brownlee, was there to accept the award on his behalf. It was a powerful tribute to see so many former Duquesne players return to the stage in support of Ray and his family, including Baron Flenory and Jarrett Durham, his longtime broadcast partner. Their presence spoke volumes about what Ray meant to Duquesne basketball and the deep respect he earned from generations of Dukes.

It is especially meaningful that one of Ray’s two all-time favorite calls came at the 2026 Chuck Cooper Classic on March 7, when Duquesne rallied from 30 points down to defeat Richmond 79-77 in the largest comeback in Atlantic 10 history. It also marked just the fourth time in NCAA Division I history that a team overcame a 30-point deficit to win. That unforgettable moment took place inside UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse, with Ray behind the microphone making one of the calls he treasured most.

We are grateful that we had the opportunity to recognize Ray on that stage and thankful that Christine was able to share that moment with us and carry that love and recognition back to her father. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, former broadcast partners, and the entire Duquesne community.

Rest In Peace Ray Goss 🙏🏾

The Chuck Cooper Foundation was proud to present the President’s Award to the McConnell family at our Centennial Gala as we celebrated 100 years of Chuck Cooper’s life and legacy.

The McConnells are one of Western Pennsylvania’s great basketball families. Across generations, they have represented excellence as players, coaches, and leaders, leaving a lasting mark on the game and on the communities they have served.

From Suzie McConnell-Serio’s Olympic accomplishments, to T.J. McConnell’s outstanding NBA career, to Meg McConnell continuing the family’s basketball tradition at the professional level, their family legacy speaks for itself. Tim McConnell’s own place in coaching history only adds to that remarkable story. (Olympics)

We are especially grateful to Tim McConnell for helping bring the family together for this special recognition. The moment was made even more meaningful by the presence of family patriarch Tom McConnell and by Tim’s heartfelt remarks about his late mother, which brought a deeply personal touch to an already special evening. Tom McConnell and the late Suzanne McConnell’s family is reflected in Suzanne McConnell’s obituary. (Olympics)

It was a privilege to recognize such a remarkable family with the Chuck Cooper Foundation President’s Award.

The Chuck Cooper Foundation was proud to present the Trailblazer Award to The Honorable Ed Gainey at our Centennial Gala as we celebrated 100 years of Chuck Cooper’s life and legacy.

As Pittsburgh’s first Black mayor, Mayor Gainey represents the kind of barrier-breaking leadership this award was created to honor.

In his acceptance remarks, he delivered a powerful message on the importance of unity and bringing people together, which added even greater meaning to the evening.

We also thank Councilman Khari Mosley, a rising leader in local government and a dedicated public servant, for presenting the award and helping make the moment even more special.

We were honored to recognize Mayor Gainey with this special award.

This is what the Chuck Cooper Foundation is all about.

As we celebrate 15 years of the Foundation, this photo represents so much of what we have worked to build. It reflects leadership development, outreach, mentorship, educational support, and real investment in young people.

I’m incredibly proud of the impact we have made through the years, awarding nearly half a million dollars across more than 70 scholarships and educational support opportunities, while continuing to grow our outreach and internship programming.

Pictured here with me are Dr. Jimyse L. Brown, a current Chuck Cooper Foundation board member and two-time scholarship recipient, Calix Clark, a Penn Hills High School student we were proud to recognize at our Centennial Gala, and Dr. Ayanna Townsend, who recently completed her internship with the Foundation and played an important role in our outreach work.

This is only one snapshot of the young people we have supported, invested in, and believed in. None of it would be possible without our incredible corporate supporters, individual donors, volunteers, board members, and community partners.

We’re proud of what we’ve built, and even more excited about where we’re going.