Wednesday, February 9, 2011

NDSU’s Phillips to Coach Barefoot Saturday for Samaritan's Feet

FARGO, N.D. - North Dakota State head men's basketball coach Saul Phillips will coach in his bare feet Saturday against IUPUI as part of the Samaritan's Feet "Barefoot for Bare Feet" initiative to raise awareness for the more than 300 million children worldwide without shoes.

Samaritan's Feet is a humanitarian relief organization whose goal is to provide 10 million pairs of shoes for 10 million impoverished people in 10 years. More than 3 million pairs have been distributed.

To donate, text the word "SHOES" to 85944 and a one-time $10 gift will be donated to Samaritan's Feet through your cell phone bill. Donations may also be made online at www.samaritansfeet.org/donation.

"Please join me in supporting Samaritan's Feet," Phillips said. "As I learned more about this program, becoming involved was an easy decision. This group has made an impact on the lives of some of the neediest children in the world."

Samaritan's Feet was founded in 2003 by Manny Ohonme, a Nigerian who played basketball at Lake Region State College in Devils Lake and later attended graduate school at NDSU.

IUPUI head coach Ron Hunter was the first to coach a game in his bare feet in January 2008. The organization raised over 140,000 pairs and $300,000 in less than six weeks and Hunter's team delivered the shoes to Lima, Peru.

Hunter, Phillips, and South Dakota State's Scott Nagy are three of more than 1,000 coaches nationwide going barefoot this year.

Saturday's NDSU-IUPUI men's game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. following the women's game at 5 p.m. at the Bison Sports Arena.

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