VCU ATHLETICS TO AID VICTIMS OF HURRICANE KATRINA

RICHMOND, Va. - Virginia Commonwealth University Director of Athletics Dr. Richard L. Sander has announced that the Ram family will donate a $1,000 from its 11th Annual Charles Barkley Celebrity Golf Tournament to the victims of Hurricane Katrina via the Red Cross.

"We are saddened by the devastation in the southeast," commented Dr. Sander. "With Tulane being a former conference member of VCU in the Metro, we feel like it is our duty to offer support to a community that has so eagerly embraced our coaches, student-athletes and staff both on the field and off the field."

"When terrible events like this happen, everyone has to pull together and help out," explained Barkley. "That is the area of the country where I grew up and I know that any support those people get will be greatly needed and much appreciated."

Additionally, InZone, the marketing research arm of the VCU SportsCenter, will be conducting an economic impact study next weekend at Richmond International Raceway and will also donate a portion of its service fee to the disaster relief fund.

The VCU SportsCenter is an innovative graduate program in sport leadership that uses real world experiences and industry insiders to teach the business of sports. The 36-hour program offers a unique dual track program where students are able to pursue their degree in coaching or sports administration. With a well-balanced curriculum consisting of everything from finance to sociology, graduate students will learn how to lead people, programs, and organizations.