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Ex-Flyer talked coach into game fundraiser

Karah Cloxton is heading to Haiti; convinces UD coach to turn a game into a fundraiser.

$It may be winter in Ohio, but the hearts of the University of Dayton women's basketball team\uFEFF are in the tropics with the people of Haiti. UD women's \uFEFFhead coach Jim Jabir (center) and players (from left) Aundrea Lindsey, Justine Raterman, De'Sarae Chambers, Sam MacKay and Patrice Lalor wear T-shirts promoting$

Jan Underwood It may be winter in Ohio, but the hearts of the University of Dayton women's basketball team\uFEFF are in the tropics with the people of Haiti. UD women's \uFEFFhead coach Jim Jabir (center) and players (from left) Aundrea Lindsey, Justine Raterman, De'Sarae Chambers, Sam MacKay and Patrice Lalor wear T-shirts promoting "Hoops for Haiti." The team\uFEFF will donate money raised from \uFEFFthe sale of these T-shirts \uFEFFand ticket sales from their \uFEFFgame against\uFEFF Xavier on Wednesday night, Feb. 17, to Haiti disaster relief. Staff photo by Jan Underwood

ENLARGE PHOTO

UD Flyer women will donate ticket sales to help Haiti

By Doug Harris, Staff Writer Updated 10:39 AM Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Former University of Dayton women’s basketball standout Karah Cloxton believed she received a call from God to use her medical training to help earthquake victims in Haiti. But she still needed some input from UD coach Jim Jabir.

“When I found out I was going, one of the first people I called was coach Jabir because, first off, I value his opinion,” she said. “He’s much more than a coach to us. He’s a good friend and a father figure. I knew if he found out I went and didn’t tell him, he probably would not be too happy.”

Jabir not only was supportive, but he and his entire team have gotten involved in the cause.

“This is such a broad-spectrum thing, everyone wants to do something, and they don’t necessarily know how,” Cloxton said. “If they know somebody that’s going, they’re kind of encouraged about that. And that helps them to give.”

The Winfield, W.Va., native, who played point guard for the Flyers from 2004-08, has spent the past two years at the Marshall University School of Medicine and will use some of her expertise as a medical missionary during a week-long trip to Haiti with Score International.

The Flyers also are reaching out to the Haitians by donating to the Red Cross all of the money generated by ticket and T-shirt sales from their game against nationally ranked Xavier at UD Arena at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 17. A marketing class at the school has helped with that charitable effort.

Tickets cost $2 and the revenues could be substantial. UD is running a “Pack the House” promotion that night to try to set a Flyers women’s basketball attendance record.

“It’s absolutely awesome,” Cloxton said. “I never imagined anything like that.”

Cloxton led the team in assists as a senior in 2007-08 and has the best career assist-to-turnover ratio in UD history. She’s a devout Christian, and Jabir considered her an example for others.

“She has a great amount of faith,” he said. “She’s an amazing human being. She doesn’t drink, doesn’t curse, just a very sensitive kid. I don’t even know if that does enough to describe her. There’s just a definite spirituality about her.”

Cloxton said she was touched by the plight of the Haitians during a Sunday service at Crew Community Church in Huntington. She had to do some fundraising to pay for the trip, but with the help of Jabir and UD men’s coach Brian Gregory, she’s collected more than enough to go.

“All along, I’ve known I wanted to do mission work,” she said. “That’s one of the reasons I wanted to be a doctor, to share my faith through my profession.

“The church I go to in Huntington was taking an extra offering for Haiti. ... Then somebody said, ‘I’m actually going.’ I was like, I want to do that. I felt like God was calling me.

“He laid it heavy on my heart and opened every door I needed to be open in order for me to go.”

Other ways to donate to Haiti

Several local efforts are under way to provide support to Haiti. Some are listed here:

Women Rock for Haiti: A two-night benefit concert. Several local female music artists, comedians and various other acts will perform. 8 p.m. Feb. 19 and 2 p.m. Feb. 20 at Brenda’s Double Deuce, 4304 Tytus Ave., Middletown. (513) 217-4712.

Fundraiser for Haiti Market Place: Through UMCOR, 100 percent of proceeds go directly to relief efforts for Haiti. Vendors will include Pampered Chef, Tastefully Simple, BeautiControl, PartyLite, Moose Creek Candles, Harper Leigh (baby gift and accessories), vita mist, Katie Miller (licensed massage therapist), Lia Sophia, Premier Designs, Silpada, Avon, Usborne Books, Rhi-Invented (reflexology). Food and drink available for sale as well (of which 100 percent is going to be donated), door prizes. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 6 at Brethren Retirement Community, in Chestnut Village, 750 Chestnut St., Greenville. (937) 547-8000.

Mission project: To donate to Anessa Snapp’s mission project in Haiti, mail a check made out to Hosanna Ministries Inc., P.O. Box 117, Vandalia, OH 45377; or contact Snapp at hosannamin @yahoo.com. Interested parties may also contact Snapp about speaking engagements.

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