Competitors Ohio State, Texas join forces off the field
to marshal support for Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts

September 7, 2005

COLUMBUS, Ohio—The Ohio State vs. Texas football game Sept. 10 presents a unique opportunity to marshal the resources of hundreds of thousands of alumni, faculty, staff, students and millions of fans of both universities to raise funds for the Hurricane Katrina recovery effort.

The two universities are teaming up to encourage donations to the American Red Cross through a series of pre-game events this week, e-mail outreach to their hundreds of thousands of alumni and use of their network public service announcements during the game. Fans will be directed to log onto www.redcross.org or call 1-800-HELP-NOW (435-7669) to make a contribution to the effort or to the charitable organization of their choice that also is supporting relief efforts.

A series of previously scheduled public events leading up to the game will provide venues for officials of both schools to remind fans of how they can contribute to the effort. Ohio State will work with the Red Cross to provide donation stations on game day.

In addition, both universities will use public service announcement time during the national broadcast on ABC and during local radio broadcasts to encourage donations. Watch the public service announcement in Windows Media or QuickTime. [Download Windows Media Player. Download QuickTime Player.]

“The devastation of the hurricane has impacted every American including thousands of Ohio State and Texas alumni, faculty, staff and students, and we want to make every effort to help in the recovery,” Ohio State President Karen Holbrook said. “The people of Texas have been providing immediate support for evacuees, and both universities are reaching out to students displaced by the closure of schools in the storm region.”

In addition to the more than 104,000 people who will attend the game, university officials will have the opportunity to share the message of support at events this week, including a University Staff Advisory Council (USAC) Pep Rally Sept. 7 and at the Red-Hot Roundup, an Ohio State/Texas pre-game event at the Schottenstein Center Sept. 10 featuring presidents from both universities.

“Katrina has presented Americans with a natural disaster of enormous proportions. The human tragedy is heartbreaking. Relief must come from partnerships, and I am proud that Texas and Ohio State will step forward together. Our students, staff, alumni, and fans can make a big difference to the millions in need,” University of Texas at Austin President Larry R. Faulkner said.

Ohio State and its Department of Athletics have launched a “September to Remember” campaign to generate hurricane recovery funds, while The University of Texas at Austin also is working with its fans to support disaster relief as thousands of evacuees have relocated to Austin. 

Ohio State’s “September to Remember” effort also includes the generation of funds through the sales of game day magazines and donations collected at the four home games in September, and at additional events when students return for the start of classes Sept. 21.

Both universities have established Web sites to convey information about assistance efforts. OSU’s site is www.osu.edu/katrina. The University of Texas at Austin site is www.utexas.edu/katrina/.

“Given the popularity of football at Ohio State and Texas, the game Saturday is a logical focal point that offers an opportunity to raise additional funds,” Ohio State Athletics Director Gene Smith said.

OSU Athletics is donating $2 from every game day magazine sold at the four September home games to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. In addition to the Sept. 3 game with Miami and the Sept. 10 game with Texas, this will include the Sept. 17 game with San Diego State and the Sept. 24 game with Iowa. A total of 76,000 game day magazines will be available for those four games.

At the Ohio State vs. Miami of Ohio game, at least $35,000 was collected in the stadium for the effort.

“Our 400,000 alumni are generous and caring people. We look forward to combining our efforts with Texas and its 450,000 alumni in this very worthy cause,” president of The Ohio State University Alumni Association Archie Griffin said.

For more information contact:

Liz Cook
The Ohio State University
614-292-7276 
614-208-8281 (cell)
cook.17@osu.edu

Don Hale     
The University of Texas at Austin
512-657-9896
donhale@mail.utexas.edu

Robin Hepler
Paul Werth Associates
614-224-8114
614-565-6525 (cell)
rhepler@paulwerth.com