The University of Florida has a very active Habitat for Humanity Club and they've asked Women Build if we would help them get the word out regarding the "Make a Play" Foundation. It's basically a challenge between UF, FSU, and Miami to raise money for Habitat - the information follows.

MIAMI, Fla - Saturday, August 30^th - The Make a Play Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity made up of former football players of Florida, Florida State and Miami, will launch a week-long fundraising challenge to benefit families in Gainesville, Miami and Tallahassee during the week of the UF-UM game. The foundation is partnering with the University of Florida and the University of Miami's Habitat for Humanity chapters to raise funds and recruit construction volunteers to sponsor and build homes for families in Gainesville and Miami. The Rivals Challenge also will partner with the Warrick Dunn Foundation, an organization founded by the former FSU running back to provide single-parent families with the opportunity of home ownership.

"It's about love for our neighbors, we've challenged each other this week but in reality these homes will help change these families' lives," Make a Play's co-founder Terry Jackson said. "We're all competitors, but when we are able to put those new keys into these families' hands, that's what it's all about."

The campus Habitat for Humanity chapters at UF and UM are focused on raising donations to sponsor and build a home in each university's city. If the funds are raised, the homes will be built in Gainesville and Miami in early 2009 by the chapter members and their volunteers. The average cost for sponsorship of each home is $60,000.

"Whether you swing a hammer, make a donation, or simply spread the word to your friends, you are helping lift walls and open doors for a family," UF Habitat for Humanity President Paul Loschak said. "Rivalries like this one give football fans everywhere an amazing energy. Regardless of who wins or loses, we have a chance right now to use this energy and leave a mark on two local families' lives."

"Every house Habitat builds has a unique essence of brotherhood and unity, but having houses sponsored and built by Hurricane and Gator students would illustrate the dedication and commitment of the good will of young people in such a time of economic hardship," UM Habitat for Humanity President Dalal Eldick said. "We will be the direct cause to giving a new life to the families we work with."

Fans in Tallahassee also will have the opportunity to compete in the Rivals Challenge, benefiting local single-parent families through Dunn's foundation and his ‘Home for the Holidays' program. The Warrick Dunn Foundation provides a down payment on a home selected by the single parent and associated with an approved non-profit home ownership program. Homes are fully furnished for the entire family with furniture, appliances, linens, décor, lawn and garden equipment, cleaning supplies and groceries. The Make a Play Foundation's goal is to assist two Tallahassee families through the challenge.

"Our foundation is proud to be a part of a challenge that embraces the tradition and competitiveness of Florida's college football fans," said FSU alumnus and Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Warrick Dunn.

If donations exceed the goals of the Rivals Challenge in the respective area, they will fund additional housing opportunities through the partnering programs and will also be shared with the Make a Play Foundation to provide youth academic and recreational grants for children in Florida.

Founding members of the Player Panel include Neal Anderson (UF), James Bates (UF), Lomas Brown (UF), Chris Doering (UF), Warrick Dunn (FSU), Earnest Graham (UF), Jacquez Green (UF), Terry Jackson (UF), Willie Jackson, Jr. (UF), Marvin Jones (FSU), Nick Maddox (FSU), Shane Matthews (UF), Santana Moss (Miami), Sinorice Moss (Miami), Burgess Owens (Miami), Errict Rhett (UF), Leon Searcy (Miami), Max Starks (UF), Fred Weary (UF) and Lawrence Wright (UF).

The Make a Play Foundation will partner with a different national or regional charity and dedicate service hours and donations to the adopted organization during each of the head-to-head competition weeks throughout the season. The 2008 college football schedule includes games at all three universities: Florida hosts Miami in Gainesville on September 6^th, Miami will host Florida State at Dolphin Stadium on October 4^th and Florida will travel to Tallahassee to face Florida State on November 29^th.

The Rivals Challenge will begin on Sunday, August 31^st at midnight and donations will be accepted through Friday, September 5^th at 5 p.m. on the Make a Play Foundation's official Web site at www.makeaplayfoundation.org. Standings will be updated daily on the Web site by 7 p.m.. The winning city will be announced the morning of the UF-UM game on September 6^th.

Habitat for Humanity is a partnership between donors, volunteers and homeowners, each playing an integral role in the success of each project. Homeowners are selected based on their housing need, their ability to repay the mortgage and their willingness to partner with Habitat. Future homeowners must invest a minimum of 250 hours of sweat equity into the construction of their homes and others in their community, and are responsible for a down payment and monthly mortgage. Volunteer builders also contribute their labor, significantly lowering the cost of the homes. Donations collected will provide the funding to purchase building materials and tools for the construction of the homes. Habitat keeps the homes affordable by selling them for no profit and with zero-percent interest financing.

The Warrick Dunn Foundation provides opportunities for economically-disadvantaged single parents and their children by providing a down payment on a home selected by the single parent that is associated with an approved and affordable non-profit homeownership program. Recipients are qualified through the non-profit programs and must have demonstrated a commitment to achieve financial independence and stability. The foundation also provides each home with furniture for each room; kitchen supplies and dishes; washers, dryers and refrigerators; lawn and garden equipment; linens; a fully-stocked kitchen; cleaning supplies and home décor items. Over the years Dunn has helped 78 single parents and their children in Tampa, Tallahassee, Atlanta and Baton Rouge through his ‘Home for the Holidays' program. He was recently awarded The Home Depot NFL Neighborhood MVP Award and named to the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame.

The Make a Play Foundation is a partnership between former football players of Florida, Florida State and Miami, designed to provide academic and recreational grants for children and families around Florida. Grants will fund educational field trips, improve or build community playgrounds and athletic fields, provide college scholarships, develop leadership programs, reward academic improvements or success, purchase athletic equipment and uniforms, support musical programs, provide computers and technology to local community centers and fund additional family-based programs. One hundred percent of fan donations to the Make a Play Foundation go towards community programs and do not fund administrative or fundraising expenses.

· Goal: To raise donations to sponsor and build a home ($60,000 average) in Gainesville and Miami through the campus chapters of Habitat for Humanity. In Tallahassee, the foundation would like to help two single-parents and their children achieve their goal of home ownership through the Warrick Dunn Foundation. Homes will be built in Gainesville and Miami in early 2009 and dedicated through the Warrick Dunn Foundation next year.

- Standings Updated: Daily by 7 p.m. on the Make a Play Foundation's Web site (www.makeaplayfoundation.org)

· If Donation Goals Are Not Met: All proceeds will benefit their respective city to partially sponsor homes through the partnering organization

· If Donation Goals Are Exceeded: Additional family housing opportunities will be funded, as well as youth academic and recreational grants through the Make a Play Foundation