The Norman Transcript

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July 26, 2008

Tickets available for coach's luncheon

Event to benefit Secret Santa Program

By Tom Blakey

The 2008 Annual Coach's Luncheon, featuring University of Oklahoma football coach Bob Stoops and his coaching staff, will benefit Norman's Secret Santa Program and assist in providing gifts to more than 750 boys and girls in protective custody care of the Department of Human Services' Child Welfare Unit.

The luncheon is scheduled 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 7 at Journey Church, and tickets are still available, organizers said.

"This event is an annual tradition for the Norman community. Coach Stoops and his staff will outline their plans for the 2008 Sooner football season while promoting a level of excitement that only Sooner football can produce," said Janet Richison of the Citizens Advisory Board of Cleveland County.

Spending more than $60,000 last year, CAB assisted with special needs throughout the year and with new and age appropriate gifts for Christmas to more than 776 foster children in Cleveland County, Richison said.

Sponsorship and ticket information includes:

· $600 Touchdown Sponsorship -- includes one reserved table (10 tickets) at the luncheon, a quarter page ad in the luncheon program and a mention in the thank you ad as a corporate donor;

· $325 Field Goal Sponsorship -- includes five tickets at the luncheon for businesses, a logo size ad in the luncheon program and a mention in the thank you ad as a corporate sponsor;

· Individual tickets must be purchased in advance for $25.

There absolutely will be no ticket sales at the door, organizers said.

"The Coach's Luncheon is always a sellout," Richison said, adding that participants should consider buying tickets early.

Ticket contacts and locations are: Brandy Menzie, Arvest Bank, 366-3937; Sean Crandall, Arvest Bank, 833-3568; and Janet Richison, 818-7958.

One of the project partners, the Juvenile Division of the Cleveland County District Attorney's Office, has for eight years organized an Angel Tree project, set up through the Child Welfare Unit's Citizen's Advisory Board, providing gifts for 40 children in foster care through the Cleveland County DHS Child Welfare Unit.

One week before Thanksgiving, the Angel Tree goes up in the DA's office adorned with the children's Christmas wish lists. Cleveland County Bar Association members and district attorney's office and Child Support Division staff purchase the gifts or make monetary contributions toward the project.

The Norman Fire Department also makes a large monetary contribution every year. In the days before the gifts are collected, DA staff members volunteer their time to shop and buy clothes, toys and other gifts to help make sure all the children get what they wish for that Christmas.

Usry Plumbing volunteers staff and vehicles to load up the gifts, which are taken to the Cleveland County Fairgrounds and sorted by more than 50 volunteers. Foster parents will pick up the presents and give them to the children.

Tom Blakey 366-3540 tblakey@normantranscript.com

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