Raleigh, NC (Dec. 1, 2025) – The Kay Yow Cancer Fund is proud to welcome Deep River Sporting Clays as its newest Mission Partner, a milestone made possible through the generous support of PowerSecure. This partnership reflects not only a shared commitment to the Fund’s mission, but also a powerful sense of unity between two organizations working together to uplift women facing cancer.
This meaningful moment grew from the longstanding success of Clays4Kay, the annual fundraising event launched in 2014 by Ed and Frances Strickland. What began as a grassroots effort rooted in community pride has grown into a movement—one that embodies the heart, courage, and collective spirit of everyone touched by Clays4Kay. In 2023, Durham-based PowerSecure joined the initiative, helping accelerate participation, impact, and momentum.
Now, with Deep River Sporting Clays officially stepping into Mission Partner status, and with PowerSecure's support, the two organizations are uniting behind a shared purpose. Together, they have committed to a three-year investment that will drive meaningful change for women facing cancer.
“When we started Clays4Kay in 2014, following Frances’ diagnosis, I hoped that it would grow into an event capable of truly impacting the fight against all cancers affecting women,” said Ed Strickland, owner of Deep River Sporting Clays. “I am incredibly proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish, but with PowerSecure joining the fight with us as Mission Partners, I know this event will reach an entirely new level of impact. Together, our commitment ensures we can save more lives, serve more women, and fulfill Coach Yow’s vision in a meaningful way.” "PowerSecure is honored to stand alongside the Kay Yow Cancer Fund and Deep River Sporting Clays in this partnership," said Jim Smith, president of PowerSecure. "The Kay Yow Cancer Fund is making a life-saving impact, and we are proud to support the incredible work they do. At PowerSecure, we put the needs of those we serve at the center of everything we do, and we are grateful for this opportunity to uplift and empower women in their fight against cancer."
“What Deep River Sporting Clays and PowerSecure have done is absolutely extraordinary,” said Jenny Palmateer, CEO of the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. “When businesses and communities unite in a fight that impacts every family, the ripple effect is powerful. The long-term impact of this level of generosity on the women we serve will be truly transformative. We are deeply grateful to Ed, Jim, and their teams for their leadership and commitment.”
Founded in 2007 by legendary NC State women’s basketball coach Kay Yow, the Kay Yow Cancer Fund has awarded $9.5 million to support cancer research and life-changing programs in underserved communities. The Fund continues to honor Coach Yow’s vision of teamwork, unity, and courage in the fight against all cancers affecting women.
About the Kay Yow Cancer Fund
The Kay Yow Cancer Fund was officially founded on December 3, 2007, from the vision of the organization’s namesake, Kay Yow, former NC State University head women’s basketball coach. Coach Yow was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987 before succumbing to the disease on January 24, 2009. The Kay Yow Cancer Fund is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization committed to raising money for life-saving cancer research, underserved programs that provide access to quality cancer healthcare, and uniting people in the fight against all cancers affecting women. The Kay Yow Cancer Fund has awarded $9.5 million in the fight against all cancers affecting women. For more information on the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, or to donate, please visit KayYow.com.
About Deep River Sporting Clays
Deep River Sporting Clays is a shooting facility in Sanford, North Carolina, offering sporting clays and a handgun range. The facility, located on 65 acres, provides a course designed to emulate hunting and offers instruction for shooters of all levels, including concealed weapons courses. The business is noted for its family-friendly environment and for business entertainment. To learn more, visit www.deepriversportingclays.com.
About PowerSecure Inc.
PowerSecure, a subsidiary of Southern Company, stands at the forefront of the distributed energy infrastructure sector in the United States. With a rich history spanning more than two decades, PowerSecure's dedicated team of professionals has successfully developed, installed, managed and serviced over 2 gigawatts of microgrid capacity. This achievement underscores PowerSecure's commitment to advancing energy solutions that are both efficient and sustainable, having implemented energy efficient upgrades valued at more than $900 million. To learn more, visit powersecure.com.