SFA football season opener to be dedicated to United Way
NACOGDOCHES, TX - September 10, 2013 - After two weeks on the road,
the SFA Lumberjack football team finally returns to Homer Bryce Stadium for its
first home game of the season this Saturday at 6 p.m. But there’s a message
behind this game, a message to Live United. SFA Athletics has partnered with
the Nacogdoches County United Way to dedicate this game to the United Way, and
encourage everyone to Live United.
“Living United is at the core of everything the United Way
represents,” Gary Lee Ashcraft, president and CEO of Nacogdoches County United
Way, said. “The idea is that just by giving a little, you can change a life.”
The United Way will be involved in every aspect of Saturday’s game
as a part of the Live United event. NCUW will have a premier, designated
tailgate spot near the Alumni Corner on the corner of Raguet and Hayter
streets. There NCUW will display the 2014 Live United Car, donated by Rex Perry
Autoplex, which will be raffled off at the end of its campaign to donors who
pledge at least $4 per week for a total of $208 in 2014.
Throughout the game, NCUW will be promoting its new “Connect2Give”
texting campaign. Connect2Give is a fundraising service that enables
organizations to collect donations and update their donors with important
information via mobile devices. The community can donate to NCUW during the
game by texting the keyword “NCUW”. This will allow them to enter the amount
they wish to donate and to visit the NCUW mobile website.
“We are very proud to now have a text-to-give campaign, and we’re
hoping that people will utilize it during the game.”
In addition, the United Way will be featured during the halftime
show, where Betty Shinn will be honored as the Tim Hayward Volunteer of the
Year award recipient and Amanda Horne will be honored for her leadership of the
Statewide Charitable Campaign conducted on the SFA campus. Both recipients are
NCUW board member. Members of the SFA Student United Way, a campus-based
service organization that partners with the Nacogdoches County United Way and
its agencies, will also be leading the charge of students out of the tunnel as
part of the second-annual Jacks Charge.
To further promote “Live United Day,” members of the football team
and the Lumberjack Marching Band will wear their purple Live United shirts all
day Friday.
“This is a huge boost not only to NCUW, but also to our 2014 Live
United! campaign,” Ashcraft said. “This is a great opportunity for us to
showcase the United Way and what we do for the community to such a large
crowd.”
In addition to Saturday’s game, SFA Athletics will host two more
Live United Days this fall. The first will be during the Ladyjack soccer match
versus Abilene Christian on October 13 at 1 p.m. The last event will be during
the Ladyjack volleyball match versus Oral Roberts on November 12 at 6:30 p.m.
“The
United Way is a fantastic organization and has such a positive impact on the
Nacogdoches Community,” said SFA Associate Athletics Director John
Branch. “We are privileged to partner with them this year and use our
resources to help raise awareness, showcase their great volunteers and make a
positive impact on the lives of the people of Nacogdoches County.”
This will be the first year that SFA Athletics and the Nacogdoches
County United Way partner on such a large scale. In the past, NCUW has
partnered with the SFA baseball team and Head Coach Johnny Cardenas to host an
annual “Live United with the Jacks” event that invites children who participate
in programs provided by United Way agencies to attend a game free of charge and
interact with the players.
NCUW’s 2014 Live United! campaign is “off to a fast paced start,”
already, according to Chris Wigington, NCUW Campaign Co-Chair.
“We had a very successful, well-attended kickoff event in August
that really jump-started the campaign. Our goal this year is to raise $350,000,
and I am confident that our volunteer leadership will get us there.”
Last year, NCUW surpassed its goal
of $340,000, raising just over $360,000.
This year’s campaign theme is “Give
a little. Change a Life.” which really embodies the spirit of the United Way.
“You never know who you could be
helping when you donate – a small child, a family of six looking to put food on
the table – and a little bit really does go a long way.” Erica Pitts,
communication coordinator for NCUW, said.
For more information, contact the
Nacogdoches County United Way office at (936) 564-5869. To stay updated with
all NCUW events, you can visit their website at www.unitedwaynac.com and like
their Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/UnitedWayNac.
