CSUN men’s basketball head coach Bobby Braswell is inviting students, faculty and fans to participate in an eBay auction to raise money for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

“We felt compelled to get involved,” Braswell said. “I couldn’t get the images of suffering off my mind.”

AllCoachesCare.com is the organization that was established to offer coaches a way to donate money to the relief effort.

In a statement by Virginia Tech’s men’s basketball coach Seth Greenberg, the goal of the project is to get coaches to work together to make a difference in the recovery efforts of the Gulf Coast area.

The auction package up for bid includes two tickets behind the Matador bench for the 2005-06 season-opener against rival USC at the Sports Arena on Nov. 20, a photo with Coach Braswell before the game, an autographed basketball by the team, two CSUN men’s basketball T-shirts, and lastly, two Bobby Braswell bobble heads.

“I want to challenge the students to get involved,” Braswell said, “that’s why we put the package together.”

All proceeds will go directly to Habitat for Humanity, an organization that builds homes for families in need.

MissionFish.org is the official non-profit liaison for eBay and will administer the funds.

Professional sports teams, coaches and players have also joined the “Coaches Care” team to help raise money for victims of Katrina.

The website offers many items up for bid, ranging from signed memorabilia to commemorative items. The program offers something for all sports enthusiasts, while also generating a way to raise much needed funds.

“The students are the future leaders of our country and what we have seen over there(in the Gulf) goes to show that more can be done to help people,” Braswell said. “Poverty needs to be dealt with.”

Matt Osias can be reached at sports_sundial@csun.edu.