Oct. 4, 2006
NEW ORLEANS - The Sun Belt Conference's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) today released details of a plan to assist fellow conference member New Orleans in their rebuilding efforts following the destruction of Hurricane Katrina.
The Student Athlete Advisory Committee is comprised of current student athletes from each of the 13 Sun Belt Conference schools. The committee's plan involves raising money through the conference's 19 sponsored sports on each campus and at each of the conference's 11 championship sites. The money will be forwarded to the conference office for distribution to the University of New Orleans.
"This endeavor shows the level of respect and compassion our schools have for one another," Sun Belt Conference Commissioner Wright Waters said. "While competition is intense on the field of play, the level of commitment to helping those in need is equally intense. This is a wonderful initiative, and it speaks volumes about the character of the Sun Belt Conference student-athletes who are involved."
Funds will be raised in two primary ways. First, each school will designate a home competition in each sport and assign SAAC members to solicit donations from fans attending the respective events. Additionally, at each conference championship event, SAAC members of the host school will solicit donations from fans attending the championship.
All fans who make a donation will receive a commemorative bracelet noting their support of the campaign.
Following the 2007 Sun Belt Conference baseball tournament, the conference's final championship event for 2006-2007, all proceeds will be presented to University of New Orleans Athletic Director Jim Miller.
"This is what college athletics is all about," Miller said. "On behalf of the entire athletics department at the University of New Orleans, I would like to express my appreciation to the Sun Belt Conference Student Advisory Committee for continuing to keep our university in their thoughts. We are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel as we continue our rebuilding efforts, and this will help us move forward even more."