User:Swoosh13/The Paint Crew

The Paint Crew is a student organization of Purdue University that operates as the official student section of the men's basketball team. The name is a pun on the last name of current Boilermakers head coach Matt Painter.

History
The student section was created in 2001 with the help of student leaders, alumni, athletic director Morgan Burke, and then head coach Gene Keady. Students voted and chose the name the 'Gene Pool' for the section. It was initially run by the Purdue Athletic department for the 2001-2002 season. Following that season the student members convened and decided that it should not just be for students, but run by students as well. They elected officers and applied and were accepted as a student organization. Following the 2004-2005 season, Matt Painter took over as head coach and the section name was changed to The Paint Crew, once again on a student vote.

Philanthropy
The Paint Crew has led many efforts to both improve the community and raise money for charitable causes. Most notably, they have teamed with Michigan State's Izzone in an annual charity challenge to raise money for Coaches vs Cancer. The challenge runs from the 1st meeting between the teams until the second meeting of the teams. The section that raises the most money in that period is presented with a traveling trophy. Through 2 years of the challenge, they have raised over $50,000.