Football players serve food to residents from Star of Hope Mission.
Athletics Department Donates Six Tons of Food to Star of Hope Mission

Food Donations Recently Presented at Halftime of Marshall Football Game

Nov. 21, 2007

HOUSTON - Only three months after beginning a partnership with the Star of Hope Mission, the University of Houston Athletics Department recently donated nearly 12,000 pounds of food to the Mission.

Fans were encouraged to bring canned and non-perishable food items to Cougar Football games at John O'Quinn Field at Roberts Stadium throughout the 2007 regular season. As they always do, Cougar fans responded in an impressive way, collecting six tons of food for the Mission.

At halftime of the Cougars' 35-28 win over Conference USA rival Marshall last weekend, UH Director of Athletics Dave Maggard presented the food to officials with the Star of Hope Mission. While the project will benefit the Mission, it also provided benefits to everyone involved in the Athletics Department, Maggard said.

"Our involvement and support for Star of Hope Mission has been a pleasure for all of us in the Athletics Department, including our student-athletes," Maggard said. "The cause is most worthy and we have an opportunity to see some of the benefits because of the location here in Houston. We are proud to have made a small difference in the lives of those who are less fortunate. Having an outreach program such as we have in the Athletics Department teaches all of us about giving back."

In addition to Cougar fans, the project also was boosted by a sizable donation from Classic Foods, a current UH corporate partner.

"The "Thanks-for-Giving" food drive initiated by the University of Houston Athletics department was truly a God send to Star of Hope this holiday season. We typically offer food, shelter and a variety of spiritual and recovery programs to about one thousand homeless men, women and children EACH DAY - this will help us tremendously," said Scott Arthur, director of public relations for Star of Hope Mission. "The University of Houston has become a wonderful partner, reaching out to the unfortunate, caring about our youth and showing those unable to maintain what CAN be achieved."

Officials with Administaff, a Houston-based company that sponsors UH Athletics and the Star of Hope Mission, and Smart Financial Credit Union agreed to become title sponsors of the partnership. FabEnCo, New York Life, Wells Fargo, Tallowood Baptist Church and Irma's Southwest Grill joined the project as supporting sponsors.

The Star of Hope Mission, which is celebrating its centennial in Houston, 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.

In June, administrators, student-athletes and staff members announced the partnership during a celebration at Robertson Stadium. Coaches, administrators and student-athletes served food, played games and mingled with nearly 400 Mission residents.

The event was inspired by the generous donation of food from June and Virgil Waggoner.

The partnership 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.