Dec. 15, 2004

WACO. Texas - Baylor Athletics has partnered with the Methodist Children's Home, providing a basketball ticket to each child that is unable to go home during the Christmas holidays. The program is designed to provide the students with an activity to help keep them occupied while school is out of session.

Baylor Athletics provided the Methodist Children's Home with 115 vouchers for the children to watch the sixth-ranked Lady Bears take on Florida Sunday, Dec. 19 at 4 p.m. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN2.

The children have been encouraged to make signs and posters for the Lady Bears' game as part of their arts and crafts project. As an exciting bonus, members of the home will be able to sit behind the goals during the game, enabling them to see the Lady Bears up close and personal.

Rebecca McPherson, recreation coordinator at the Methodist Children's Home, said, "This is a great opportunity for our students to stay active and to attend a college basketball game. I know a lot of them will be missing their families, especially during the holidays."

Baylor Athletics provided an additional 200 non-conference vouchers to the Methodist Children's Home so they could experience another game of their choice during the winter break.

The Methodist Children's Home is located in Waco and is a non-profit child care ministry that originally began as an orphanage, but now serves as a group home. The home serves more than 400 children daily through residential care, a boy's ranch, foster care and a college program.

For more information on how your group or charity can attend a Baylor basketball game, please contact Baylor Athletic Marketing at 710-3073.