FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                            
March 1, 2003
Contact:  Camelia Trahan, Sports Information Rhodes College
trahanc@rhodes.edu
(901) 843-3945

Over $1,500 raised and 300 food items donated for MIFA at SCAC Basketball Tournament

Memphis, Tenn. -- The Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference, in conjunction with host school Rhodes College, held a food drive and silent auction at the 2003 SCAC Men's and Women's Basketball Tournament, with all proceeds to benefit the Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association (MIFA). 

MIFA is a non-profit organization that unites all ages, faiths and cultures to meet human needs and develop lasting solutions to help neighbors live together with hope, independence and dignity.

In lieu of an admission fee, those attending the SCAC Basketball Tournament were asked to bring two non-perishable food items each day they planned to attend. Through the generosity of patrons at the tournament, the three day food drive totaled four - 32 quart bins of non perishable food items and $63.00 in cash donations. 

The food drive was conducted to help replenish the pantry shelves and to assist in eliminating hunger through out Shelby County.  All proceeds from the food drive will benefit MIFA Meals, Easy Meals by MIFA and the Food Bank.

In addition, a silent auction of one-of-a-kind collectibles was conducted. The auction consisted of 16 team-signed basketballs - one for each team participating in the tournament. All of the basketballs were donated by Wilson Sporting Goods as a contribution to the event.

At the end of the championships, $1,523 was raised via the silent auction with all proceeds also going to MIFA.

To aid in the continuation of a community effort, Rhodes, the SCAC and MIFA plan to market it for next year’s tournament, which will also be hosted by Rhodes. 

“This was a great idea and Dwayne Hanberry of the SCAC office should be commended for his work on this specific project. It was his idea and we hope to double the contribution next year with more time to promote this charitable event," said Matt Dean, women’s head basketball coach of Rhodes.

For more information about MIFA, please visit www.mifa.org.

Pictured (from left to right): J.J. Jumper - official mascot of NCAA Basketball, Christy Nettles - MIFA Representative, Mike Clary - Rhodes Athletics Director, Camelia Trahan - Asst. SID Rhodes, Steve Argo - SCAC Commissioner
(Photo by Mike Lanke)