Billy Hartford (left) and Jordan Brown served residents from the Star of Hope Mission on Friday during a picnic at Robertson Stadium.
Athletics Department Played Host to Picnic for Star of Hope Mission Residents

Student-Athletes Serve Food, Play Games with More than 300 Residents

June 22, 2007

HOUSTON - Student-athletes, coaches and administrators joined with residents from the local Star of Hope Mission on Friday afternoon during a two-hour picnic at the tailgating pavilions at Robertson Stadium.

With the threat of rain holding off, University of Houston Athletics Department student-athletes served hamburgers and hot dogs to approximately 350 women and children. The group also played games, passed out toys and mingled with the Mission residents.

As he watched many members of his football team help with the event and playing with the resident children, UH football head coach Art Briles said working with the Star of Hope Mission was an easy decision to make.

"First and foremost, it's the right thing to do and secondly, we are able to. We have been doubly blessed," Briles said. "We are blessed with the ability to be the giver and also blessed with the help and the means to be able to come out and participate in the project."

Wearing their game uniforms, about 25 student-athletes from the Cougar Football team and about five more from the Volleyball team were a common sight, escorting families to seats under the pavilions or even playing games, like hula hoops and tossing the football.

At 6-5 and nearly 300 pounds, junior defensive tackle Ell Ash was a big and surprising hit with his flexibility in the limbo contest, while senior running back Anthony Alridge won over the crowd with an infectious personality.

Playing and talking with student-athletes from an NCAA Division I program may have been one of the greatest thrills in some of the resident children's lives. However, Briles said he hoped his players also took a lesson away from the event.

"I would hope that they get the feeling of humbleness for having clothes on their back and food in front of their faces seven days a week," Briles said. "A lot of times you take things for granted that are pretty essential. It's tragic to think that so many people wake up and don't know if they will have clothes on their back and food to eat."

The program, which also celebrated the Star of Hope Mission's 100 years of service to Houston, featured 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, served 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.

Friday's event was 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.