Habitat for Humanity to be featured nonprofit at this Saturday's Xplorers game
June 13, 2006 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Memphis Xplorers News Release
SOUTHAVEN --- The Hernando-DeSoto Habitat for Humanity will be the Featured Non-Profit at this Saturday's Memphis Xplorers game at the DeSoto Civic Center. The 8-2 Xplorers host the 5-5 Birmingham Steeldogs in a 7pm kickoff.
As the Featured Non-Profit for the game, Habitat for Humanity will have an information table on the concourse at the DeSoto Civic Center during the game and will be selling chances for the "fling-a-football" halftime contest as a fundraiser. The organization is also selling tickets to the game through the Xplorers fundraising program with a portion of the proceeds going to the local chapter of Habitat.
"Fundraising opportunities like this are very important to our organization," Hernando-DeSoto Habitat for Humanity board member Lee Ashcraft said. "The money that is raised stays local to allow us to build our homes."
Building homes...that is what Habitat for Humanity does. The mission established by Habitat for Humanity International is to "eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world, and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action."
Overall, Habitat for Humanity International has built more than 175,000 houses in more than 3,000 communities around the world. The Hernando-DeSoto chapter of Habitat is currently building its 13th home in DeSoto County, and is planning two more before 2006 is through. The current project is in the Eudora community in the southwest corner of DeSoto County.
Habitat houses are built with volunteer labor and tax-deductible donations of money and materials. Habitat houses are then sold to partner families at no profit, financed with affordable, no-interest loans. The homeowners' monthly mortgage payments are recycled into a revolving Fund for Humanity that is used to build more houses. Homeowners are required to invest 500 hours of "sweat equity" into their house and a combination of other Habitat houses.
"We are only chartered to build homes in DeSoto County, so the money that we raise through our fundraising stays local to help local families in need," Ashcraft said. "We couldn't do what we do without the local support, donations and fundraising."
To purchase the special fundraising tickets to this Saturday's Xplorers game, email Hernando-DeSoto Habitat President Tracy Kirkley at TracyKirkley@desotohabitat.org. Again a portion of the proceeds of these special tickets will go to the local Habitat chapter.
The Memphis Xplorers...2005 ArenaCup Champions
Help the Xplorers and the Northwest Mississippi Association of Realtors "Support Our Troops" when the Xplorers host the Birmingham Steeldogs on Saturday, June 17 at 7pm. The first 500 fans 12 and under will receive a collectible youth jersey compliments of First Tennessee. The first 1,000 fans will also get Miller Lite Can Koozies and miniature American flags. A-D-T will also be handing out CheerStix to all fans. Sam's Town Casino is sponsoring special jerseys the players will be wearing that will be auctioned off after the game to benefit the local troops and their families. Come early for the bike rally held by ABATE of Mississippi and the Sam's Town/Southern Thunder Harley Tailgate Party from 4 to 6. A big screen TV from Giant TV will be given away at halftime. See your local Giant TV location to sign up. With every purchase of a special $15 dollar ticket to the game, $6 will go to help our local troops and their families. For info, call 662-342-1755.
Listen to all the action on the radio home of the Xplorers, 730 ESPN.
Be sure to head to O'Charley's on Goodman Road in Southaven after every Xplorers home game for the official post game party.
Listen to the Danton Barto Show every Monday at 6pm on 730 ESPN live from The Fox and Hound in Southaven.
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