Bulldog Home Football Games To Collect Red Cross Donations

In response to the terrorist attack on America, California State University, Fresno Athletic Department and university student organizations are encouraging all Bulldog fans to bring an extra $1 to each of the remaining five home football games.

The money will be donated to the American Red Cross.

"Everyone in America is asking, 'How can we help?'," said Scott Johnson, interim athletic director at Fresno State. "This is a way that everyone not only can help in the short-term, but also in the long term, as the American Red Cross works with survivors, fire and rescue workers, and the families of victims."

Fresno State's student body president Ryan Jacobsen said students from Fresno State's Smittcamp Family Honors College and members of fraternities and sororities, along with representatives of the American Red Cross, will be posted at special barrels throughout the stadium to receive the donations.

"Fresno State students have already helped raise more than $100,000 in support of rescue and relief efforts," Jacobsen said. "We want to continue this effort and provide the San Joaquin Valley community and the university a way to help our fellow Americans together."

Fresno State also is encouraging other colleges and universities nationwide to begin the same sort of fund-raising campaign for every home game across the nation.

"I'm communicating with my other Western Athletic Conference athletic directors and see what we can do as a conference to help," Johnson said.

Fresno State's fund-raising effort will begin with the Sept. 29 home game against Louisiana Tech and run through the rescheduled game against Utah State Dec. 1. The Sept. 29 game will be Fresno State's homecoming game and the Dec. 1 game will be the last game of the regular season and is the game that was postponed by the university in the wake of the terrorist attack last week.

"We're asking people to come to each of our remaining home games prepared to contribute $1," Johnson said. "Of course people can give more if they choose."

Additional information about the effort is available at www.gobulldogs.com and www.FresnoStateNews.com.