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Money Didn't Flow, So The Hairdo Stays

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By GEOFF FOX, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 29, 2007

WESLEY CHAPEL - Charlie Reese probably won't be a walking Tampa Bay Devil Rays advertisement, after all.

A member of Habitat for Humanity of Central Pasco County's board of directors, Reese said last month that he would shave the Devil Rays' logo into his thick, salt-and-pepper hair if local businesses donated $25,000 for the next Habitat house as part of a fundraiser called Harvest for Humanity.

He acknowledged that the financial goal was ambitious, but Reese said the fundraiser should eclipse the $4,000 to $7,000 usually donated at Habitat's annual golf tournament; an exact total should be available next week.

More than 50 businesses participated in the fundraiser, which began last month and concluded Saturday.

'It's always the same players and businesses that participate in the golf tournament,' he said. 'With this, we've reached a whole new group of participants. It's been a success simply with that.'

Wearing a Devil Rays baseball cap Saturday afternoon, Reese helped other volunteers load a pickup full of food at the Ferman at Cypress Creek auto dealership on State Road 54 in Land O' Lakes. The food then was delivered to Christian Social Services on U.S. 41.

Several businesses will continue collecting food through Thursday, Reese said.

The $25,000 goal probably would have been enough to purchase a lot and materials for the next Habitat home in central Pasco.

The one most recently finished cost $75,000 to build, but many of the materials were donated by local builders. The house is in Pasco Lake Estates off U.S. 41, about 4 1/2 miles north of State Road 52.

Thanks to rising construction costs and land values, the next house could cost more than $90,000 to build, Reese said.

The group collected nonperishable food for Christian Social Services because the agency often has to buy the food it distributes around the winter holidays from local food banks.

'While the donated money will help one family with a new home, the food we've collected could help hundreds of families,' Reese said. 'I think Habitat for Humanity might consider doing this again.'

Reporter Geoff Fox can be reached at (813) 948-4217 or gfox@tampatrib.com.

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