Clutch City Classic to Benefit Twin Towers Fund

Oct. 3 - The Houston Rockets will dedicate a portion of ticket sale proceeds and all proceeds raised at a special silent auction during the seventh annual Clutch City Classic to the Twin Towers Fund. This season's Clutch City Classic, presented by Southwest Airlines, will be Thursday, October 11, when the Rockets play host to the Dallas Mavericks at 7:30 p.m. at Compaq Center. The Twin Towers Fund was established by New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani to assist families of service heroes affected by the September 11 terrorist attacks.

The Clutch City Classic, the Rockets preseason home opener, will be known as the Clutch City Classic-Spirit of America in Houston, in special recognition of the victims, their families, dedicated rescue workers and many volunteers touched by the horrific events in New York City, Washington D.C. and Pennsylvania.

"Houston Rockets players, coaches and staff members are honored to participate in relief efforts for our nation," Rockets owner Leslie Alexander said. "We know the tragic emotional and financial losses endured by so many in recent weeks can not be measured in monetary terms, but we hope that by donating relief funds we can somehow help with the recovery."

The Clutch City Classic-Spirit of America in Houston will provide Houstonians with an ideal opportunity to join together and demonstrate their patriotism, as the nation continues to heal and rebuild its spirit. Fans are encouraged to participate in a show of solidarity by wearing red, white, and blue to the game.

A silent auction featuring autographed Rockets memorabilia will also be held on the Compaq Center concourse during the game. Fans will have the opportunity to bid on an exclusive assortment of Rockets and Comets autographed merchandise. All proceeds from the silent auction will be donated to the Twin Towers Fund.

The Twin Towers Fund is designed to ensure that the nation's outpouring of support is coordinated, responsive and accountable, and will assist the families of the members of the New York Fire Department and its Emergency Medical Command, the New York City Police Department, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The New York State office of Court Administration and other government offices that lost lives during the attack will also be included as beneficiaries.

Tickets for the Clutch City Classic-Spirit of America in Houston start at $10 each and are available at 1-800-4NBA-TIX, Rockets.com, Ticketmaster Ticket Centers, and the Compaq Center box office.

The Clutch City Classic is an initiative of the Clutch City Foundation, established in 1995 by Rockets owner Leslie Alexander. Previous beneficiaries of the Clutch City Classic are the Houston City Parks, Phoenix Outreach Youth Center, Kid-Care, S.E.A.R.C.H., AAMA, the NAACP, and Vecinos Unidos. Alexander's commitment to the local community has translated into more than $5 million in charitable contributions over the last eight years.