This is an exciting time to be covering area high school athletics, and it's got nothing to do with what's happening in the gym or pool.

Three recent efforts of charity, and one more of inspiration, have me feeling all warm and tingly inside.

And that's a good feeling to have every once in awhile.

Gala of Hope raises $30,000: Apex volleyball player Megan Gravley and two other Apex High students - Katie Godfrey and Sydney Snedeker - organized the Peak City Gala of Hope to raise money for the Jimmy V Foundation for Cancer Research and complete a marketing class ad-campaign project.

The girls' original goal was to raise $10,000, but as of late Saturday evening, the online fundraising page said the gala had raised just $3,278.

Then came Sunday's event, held at Peak United Methodist Church, and that number grew rapidly.

The girls' goal was reached, and then some, as the event raised more than $30,000 for the Jimmy V Foundation.

Hoops for Hope on Friday: This Friday marks the fifth annual Hoops for Hope game between the Athens Drive and Apex girls basketball teams.

All proceeds from the game go to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, which raises money for breast cancer research.

The event was started four years ago by then-Athens Drive freshman Blair Williams.

Williams is now a freshman at N.C. State, but the event will continue thanks to new student organizer Taylor Cesarski, a junior for the Athens Drive Lady Jags.

There will be pink Hoops for Hope T-shirts for sale and a silent auction with items such as Carolina Hurricanes tickets, theme park tickets, gift cards and jewelry going to the highest bidder.

For more information about the event or to make a donation, email Cesarski at adhshoops4hope@gmail.com.

Giving to homeless: Holly Springs football and track and field assistant coach Christopher Satterfield recently started a new club for the school's male students called "Empower One."

Among the things the group goes over is life lessons - from how to treat women to how to tie a tie.

The group has about 20 members so far, many of whom will be volunteering this Saturday at the men's homeless shelter off South Wilmington Street in downtown Raleigh.

King's scholarship: Rashawn King won national runner-up for the "Rudy" award, given by PARADE magazine to the most inspiring high school football player in the country.

The prize was a $2,500 scholarship for King.

One of my favorite stories about King - who has returned to basketball and football this year after leukemia sidelined him last season - was told to me by Mustangs basketball coach David Kushner.

King was watching a basketball practice last year when Kushner asked King to lead a drill where players get into defensive position and follow the leaders' directions.

King was antsy to get involved, and his teammates didn't let him down by going all-out in the drill - whooping and hollering the whole way.

It's great that King's story got its due on a national level.

Even if it had never been picked up by PARADE, it would have been no less inspiring.