1972 Miami Dolphins Tackle Hurricane Aid

The Golden Rule Foundation and members of the undefeated and untied 1972 Miami Dolphins will team up Oct. 1 to raise money for children displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

The Kickoff for Character Pep Rally featuring cheerleaders, tailgate fare, a pep band and a live auction costs $150 per person. The event is from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the home of Dick and Sharon Simmons on the 18th hole of Bay Hill Club & Lodge.

Dolphins stars include Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver Paul Warfield, Hall of Fame guard Larry Little and tight end Marv Fleming, who played in five Super Bowls.

Money from ticket sales and the live auction of Dolphins memorabilia, vacation packages and artwork will be set aside for foundation projects helping children forced from their homes in the unprecedented storm, Executive Director Henry Vales said.

"The Golden Rule Foundation supports community service projects involving local school children as a way to build good character and a giving heart," Vales said. "What better way to teach our kids the art of caring than to have them help other kids in trouble?"

The six-year-old nonprofit foundation provides grants to teachers who integrate a pressing community need into their class curriculum and then work with their students to resolve it.

The projects, which occur during school hours, offer students a real-life way to apply their lessons and allow them to develop positive character traits as they work in teams. In addition, the community benefits from the kids’ charity work.

Since its inception, the foundation has raised more than $1.2 million for character education in Orange, Osceola, Lake and Seminole counties.

This money has supported 274 projects involving 11,622 school children who worked 81,420 volunteer hours helping people in their communities.

To buy tickets, call The Golden Rule Foundation at 407-647-4047 or e-mail kjennings@ DoUntoOthers.net.