Friday, October 31st 2008, 7:08 pm
By Amy Lester, NEWS 9
NORMAN, Okla. -- A big Sooner name in Oklahoma is asking for help feeding hundreds of families a Thanksgiving dinner.
Former OU quarterback Josh Heupel is the name behind The 14 Foundation. The project will bring 3,000 meals to Oklahomans.
Heupel led the O-U football team to a national championship title. Now, he coaches quarterbacks, teaching them how to follow in his footsteps.
"If you can't play, you coach, that's as close to the game as you can get," the former OU quarterback said.
Heupel is a part of the OU culture, and a man with character who believes in giving back to the community.
"It's amazing to think in today's world that there are families who struggle to put food on the table," Heupel said.
For the eighth year, Heupel's 14 Foundation will hold a food drive to provide Thanksgiving for 750 families. Some families will also get a chance to meet the team.
"Fulfilling some of those basic needs, showing people that you care, that's just the first step to helping some of these young people achieve the things they want to achieve in life," Heupel said.
If you want to help The 14 Foundation, you can donate. Before the Nebraska game on Saturday, 200 volunteers will stand outside of the stadium, collecting cash. That money will go toward food from the Regional Food Bank.
"Because the food bank can buy in such bulk amounts, they order through us what they want. We produce the food. We package it up in boxes. We load it onto our trailers and we deliver it to the families," said Dawn Burroughs with the Regional Food Bank.
All it takes is $1 to provide seven meals. Heupel needs Sooner fans to donate and make his event a success, once again.
"Hopefully it inspires people to give," Heupel said. "That's what I think charity is all about, finding a cause that's near and dear to your heart, making a difference in other people's lives."
The 14 Foundation also provides gifts to families on Christmas and gives kids scholarships to camps in the summertime.
October 31st, 2008
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