Football head coach Art Briles
Athletics Department to Join with Star of Hope Mission in 2007

Unique Partnership Kicks Off with Program at Robertson Stadium at noon, Friday

June 20, 2007

HOUSTON - Student-athletes from the University of Houston Athletics Department will join with personnel from Star of Hope Mission to serve food to homeless women and children on June 22 at Robertson Stadium.

Student-athletes from the Cougars' Conference USA championship football team and other Cougar programs will distribute food to Star of Hope residents beginning at noon, Friday, June 22 at the tailgating pavilions at Robertson Stadium.

The program, which celebrates the Star of Hope Mission's 100 years of service to Houston, also features inflatable toys and face-painting for children with performances by the Cougar Band, cheerleaders and Cougar Dolls.

The event, which was inspired by the generous donation of food from June and Virgil Waggoner, will serve as the kickoff for a unique partnership between the UH Athletics Department and the Star of Hope Mission during the 2007 football season. Fans are encouraged to bring canned and non-perishable food items to Robertson Stadium on Cougar Football game days throughout the 2007 season.

During the annual Homecoming game against Conference USA rival Marshall on Nov. 17, all the collected food will be presented to the Star of Hope Mission.

Fans who drop off canned and non-perishable food items at home football games at Robertson Stadium during the 2007 season will receive a discount voucher, good for discounted tickets or Cougar Authentic merchandise.

Officials with Administaff, a Houston-based company that sponsors UH Athletics and the Star of Hope Mission, and Smart Financial Credit Union recently agreed to become title sponsors of the partnership.

The Star of Hope Mission ministers to more than 900 people every day with food, clothing, shelter and structured recovery programs. The organization touches the lives of more than 7,000 homeless people each year, including more than 1,600 children.

This is only the latest in a string of community outreach programs by Cougar coaches, administrators and student-athletes, who have worked in campus facility tours, reading incentive programs, drug awareness, motivational speaking, hospital visits, TAKS Test pep rallies and food and clothing drives.

For more information about the event, please contact the UH Marketing Office at (713) 743-9455 or sportsmarketing @uh.edu.