KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Volunteers from the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) will join Habitat for Humanity and the NCAA to pre-build a home that will eventually be built in partnership with a hurricane-affected family in Baton Rouge. The build will take place in conjunction with the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Induction this weekend.
The home will be dedicated to the memory of Sue Gunter, former LSU women’s basketball coach and 2000 Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame inductee. Final construction of the home will take place in Baton Rouge in May and June, in conjunction with a 14-home Habitat building blitz.
“In the midst of a weekend dedicated to celebrating the accomplishments of the 2006 Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Inductees, the Habitat for Humanity build gave us a break from the storytelling and celebration to build something larger, providing relief for a gulf coast family in need,” said Nan Elrod, director of basketball relations, Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.
LSU head coach Pokey Chatman and her staff will be on hand in Knoxville Saturday for the dedication of the house that will be moved to Baton Rouge in the coming months.
“We are pleased to partner with the NCAA and Habitat for Humanity to rebuild homes and lives in the Gulf Coast region,” said Beth Bass, chief executive officer of the WBCA. “Sue Gunter was a special member of the women’s basketball family. It is only appropriate that we honor her memory in both Knoxville and Baton Rouge by providing a fresh start for a family in need.”
In addition to the Knoxville build, the WBCA and the NCAA have partnered to provide exclusive autographed basketballs for an online auction. Four commemorative silver anniversary basketballs signed by the Women’s Final Four coaches, including Chatman, and one commemorative silver anniversary basketball signed by the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball 25th Anniversary Team will be auctioned online. All proceeds from the auction will benefit Habitat for Humanity, International and the local Boston Habitat for Humanity affiliate. Bids for the autographed basketballs are now being accepted online at http://auctions.ncaasports.com. The auction will close on May 3.
“From the beginning, the WBCA pledged resources to the NCAA’s ‘Home Team’ partnership,” said Sue Donohoe, NCAA vice-president for Division I Women’s Basketball. “This initiative by the women’s basketball coaches’ community embraces the spirit of women’s basketball and is another example of the community outreach efforts that the women’s basketball community is committed to.”
The project is the latest development in a three-year “Home Team” partnership between Habitat for Humanity and the NCAA that began in September with a $1 million lead gift from Division II and a $500,000 matching gift from the Association and the national office. In January, the Association leadership donated an additional $1 million for a total of $2.5 million. The partnership will provide donations through additional fundraising and volunteers for the long-term rebuilding effort on the Gulf Coast following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
“This partnership is incredibly important to Habitat for Humanity because of the many resources the NCAA offers,” said Chris Clarke, senior vice president of Habitat for Humanity International. “The NCAA brings much needed funding and volunteers to address the needs of families displaced by the hurricanes. They also reach out to America’s youth and encourage them to make a difference. Best of all, they will carry that message over the next three years,” Clarke said.
A similar “Habitat home in a box” build occurred in Chattanooga, Tenn., at the Division I-AA Football Championships in December and in Indianapolis at the Division II Swimming and Diving Championships in March. During the Men’s Final Four April 1-3, three Habitat “Houses in a box” were constructed outside the NCAA National Office; a fourth house will be built in Indianapolis at a later date. A build is also being planned in conjunction with the College World Series.