RAMS HELP CAPE YOUTH FOOTBALL

If they aren't already, at least 230 members of the Cape Youth Tackle Football League will become loyal fans of the St. Louis Rams.

And there's sure to be other local residents wooed by the NFL team.

Prior to the start of Saturday's game between Southeast Missouri and Eastern Kentucky, the St. Louis Rams Foundation will make a $5,000 donation to the local youth organization. The ceremony will take place at 12:30 p.m. at Houck Stadium.

With all members of the Cape Youth Football League wearing their jerseys, organization president Mike Dunaway will accept the donation from Willard Harrell, a RAMbassador and former running back for the St. Louis Cardinals.

"I'm very flattered the Rams would choose the youth program of Cape Girardeau to lend that type of support to," said Dunaway.

Every NFL team received $25,000 from Mastercard and the Rams chose the local organization as one of its three beneficiaries. The Herbert Hoover Boys Club in St. Louis and the Belleville School District also received contributions.

Dunaway had sent a fund-request letter to the Rams on behalf of the organization, but didn't hold high hopes.

"I guess they wanted to reach outside the St. Louis city limits and reach the fan base south," said Dunaway, who said he was dumbfounded when he learned the organization had been chosen.

"Obviously a $5,000 donation is a sizable piece of change we'll be able to do a lot of good things with it," he said.

Dunaway described the growing league's financial status as "penny to penny" with its funds arriving from the Noon Optimists and registration fees.

The league has grown substantially in the last three years, with the league's numbers expanding from four teams and 135 members to six teams and approximately 230 kids. That growth has put a financial demand on the league, which provides helmets and pads.

Dunaway said the helmets, which go for $75 to $95, are the same caliber worn by Cape Central High School and Southeast Missouri players.

"They're the best we can put our kids in," said Dunaway. "This will help keep the kids in first rate equipment."