WHEN
Saturday, October 3, 2026
8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Sunday, October 4, 2026
10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Event Overview
Join us for the 2nd Annual Hoops for The Hub, a 3-on-3 basketball tournament and 3-point contest fundraiser taking place October 3-4, 2026, benefiting The Hub Basic Needs Center at UC San Diego.
Open to adults 18 and older of all skill levels, the tournament guarantees each team at least three games. More than just a tournament, it’s a high-energy weekend of competitive basketball that brings together students, faculty, staff, and community members to build camaraderie and raise vital funds in support of students facing basic needs challenges.
Proceeds from the tournament will help provide students with nutritious, no-cost food, temporary emergency housing, and financial crisis support—ensuring they have the resources needed to focus on their education.
Opportunities for Impact
We invite you to join us in supporting students through Hoops for The Hub. Below you will find three distinct sponsorship levels, each outlined with the benefits associated with that level.
Your support advances a vital cause and offers valuable visibility within the UC San Diego community and beyond. Together, we can help ensure every student has access to nutritious food, safe housing, and the resources to thrive—both personally and academically.
We look forward to partnering with you to make this tournament a resounding success for The Hub and the students it serves. Below are a few examples of how your generosity can make an impact:
• $3,500 could provide up to 30 days of on-campus emergency housing for two students experiencing unstable or unsafe living conditions.
• $2,000 could fund a Basic Needs Emergency Grant to one student facing an urgent financial crisis.
• $1,000 could provide five students with Emergency Meal Assistance for one month.
Ready to hit the court or support the tournament as a sponsor?
Register by October 2, 2026
Unable to attend but still want to give? Please consider making a gift.
All registration gifts and sponsorships gifts should be directed to the UC San Diego Foundation in support of the fully expendable fund entitled Hoops for the Hub (E7867).
General Event Inquiries:
Alyson Hong at a3hong@ucsd.edu and Christopher Walters at chwalters@ucsd.edu
Sponsorship and Donations:
Tiffany Ayres at tayres@ucsd.edu
THE HUB BASIC NEEDS CENTER
An advocate, a supporter, a navigator and a trusted friend — The Hub Basic Needs Center is all of these and more for students who need a helping hand at a critical time. To meet the unique needs of the undergraduate and graduate student community, The Hub provides students access to nutritious no-cost food, temporary emergency housing, financial crisis support, and personalized wrap-around services. A comprehensive support system provides immediate crisis intervention services and links to long-term resources that support self-sufficiency. This connected approach ensures that every Triton can live and study in an environment that nurtures their dignity, their health and their mind, ensuring their success at UC San Diego and beyond.
Reflections from The Hub
"At The Hub Basic Needs Center, we believe in the power of community - that Tritons care for Tritons. Hoops for the Hub is a powerful example of what’s possible when people on campus come together with intention to humanize basic needs centered on a common purpose: empowering students to thrive. It takes radical courage to learn from each other, have real talk centering student experiences both on and off campus, to truly be open to change as a campus community. We’re inspired by the growing network of basic needs allies—individuals and campus partners who care deeply about understanding the challenges our students face and are committed to walking alongside us in this important work. We have a vision for a campus environment where all students have nourishing food, sustainable financial resources, and a safe place to live and grow together. Basic Needs are basic human rights and is a collective responsibility - nourish minds to do great things!"
- Alicia Magallanes, MSW
Director, The Hub Basic Needs Center
HOOPS FOR THE HUB COMMITTEE
The planning committee—composed of members from the UC San Diego Police Department, VC Operations Management and Capital Programs IDEA Group, and the Campus Performance and Events Office—approached The Hub Basic Needs Center with the idea of hosting a fundraiser to support students facing basic needs challenges. They sought to better understand the current landscape of basic needs on campus through active listening, building relationships with Basic Needs staff, and reflecting on the economic inequities affecting students and families in our community and beyond.
“As a former student athlete, I remember the quiet struggles I faced with food insecurity and housing instability during college—and how I would have benefitted if a program like The Hub existed when I was in school. I am grateful to have the opportunity to develop a fundraiser to give back and ensure today’s students don’t have to choose between survival and success. This is my way of turning past hardship into hope for someone else.”
- Christopher Walters
Police Officer, UC San Diego Police
“I am a proud UC San Diego, Thurgood Marshall alum, who always looks for ways to help others. Combining basketball and fundraising to build community impact to benefit an amazing program like the Hub, is a great opportunity to showcase our campus community, strength, and generosity.”
- Alyson Hong
Emergency Management
“As a first generation student athlete, I had to dig through couch cushions for enough change to buy a dollar sandwich from the chicken shop across the street. Back then, survival was the goal. I wish that we had a Basic Needs Center to support me and others facing food and housing challenges. Now, I advocate and fundraise for The Hub—because no student should have to hustle for their next meal instead of focusing on school. This is about more than my journey—it's about building a community where support, dignity, and access are non-negotiable.”
- Frank Johnson
Assistant Chief, UC San Diego Police
“I am proud to collaborate on this inaugural event benefiting our Basic Needs team. I’m inspired by the way our community is invited to uplift and support our students to ensure their success in higher education.”
- Anthony Tran
Associate Director, Campus Performances and Events Office