Flag football event helps hungry children

PORTSMOUTH — The game is flag football. The cause is hunger. The fourth annual ‘Football For a Cause’ was held Saturday at the Portsmouth High School Clark Athletic Complex. Participants battled it out on the field to help feed hungry children in the local area.

Blair Copen, along with his wife Joy Copen, look forward to coordinating the annual ‘Flag Football For a Cause’ each year.

“This is our fourth annual ‘Football For a Cause game’. We play for the Steven Hunter Fund. Of course it’ s for a good cause, obviously we know that,” Copen said. “I truly enjoy being a part of this, it is a blessing to see the kids that come out to play, because they are paying money to play a game. We are not paying them to play, they actually pay to play. Then there are the men, most are alumni from the local schools that come out and pay to play. So it has been an enjoyment then last four years. I enjoy going out there and playing, even though I am a little old.”

The players in the game pay to play, according to Blair Copen.

“We have a few people that come out to play, not a lot of people, some of the parents of the kids that participate, and family members,” Copen said. “The tickets sales generate $5 per person, but the majority of the money comes from the guys who play, at $50 a piece.”

Mark Hunter said he and his wife Vergie Hunter are overwhelmed by the continued support of the Steven Hunter Hope Fund.

“Vergie and I are just overwhelmed. These guys come out here and give their time, Blair and Joy Copen help to organize all of this to raise money for Steven’s Power Packs,” Hunter said. “We have graduates here today from Portsmouth, Northwest and West and they will have a good-spirited game of flag football. A lot of the old rivalries are still there, but they are just having a good time.

Mark Hunter said God has opened doors for the Fund, and is the reason for the expansion.

“This means so much to us, because this is going to raise at least a couple of thousands of dollars I would say,” Hunter said. “This has been an amazing week of the community pouring love for these kids. “God has this. He has opened so many doors, and he knows these kids need help, obviously and the community sees that. We are just so blessed that he has given us a mission and we take it very seriously.”

The Steven Hunter Hope Fund began in 2006 by providing food to children in need in Portsmouth. Now in it’s 10th year, the Fund now serves close 1,000 children every Friday, in 17 schools in Scioto, Pike, and Adams counties.

For more information and to make a donations to the Steven Hunter Hope Fund visit:

www.stevenshopefund.org or the Steven Hunter Fund Facebook page, or by mail to: P.O Box 802 Portsmouth, Ohio 45662.

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Portia Williams | Daily Times Participants in the fourth annual ‘Flag Football For a Cause’ rounding up for a series of games at the Portsmouth High School Sports Complex Saturday.
http://portsmouth-dailytimes.aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2016/05/web1_FootballCause-1.jpgPortia Williams | Daily Times Participants in the fourth annual ‘Flag Football For a Cause’ rounding up for a series of games at the Portsmouth High School Sports Complex Saturday.

Portia Williams | Daily Times Competition against former rivals to help hungry kids at the fourth annual ‘Flag Football For a Cause’ held Saturday at the Portsmouth High School Sports Complex.
http://portsmouth-dailytimes.aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2016/05/web1_Offense-1.jpgPortia Williams | Daily Times Competition against former rivals to help hungry kids at the fourth annual ‘Flag Football For a Cause’ held Saturday at the Portsmouth High School Sports Complex.

By Portia Williams

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Reach Portia Williams at 740-353-3101, ext. 1929, or on Twitter @PortiaWillPDT.

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