Rachel Baer

UNF student Rachel Baer of Brandon has been named the student ambassador for the 2002 Souper Bowl of Caring campaign. The 2002 Souper Bowl of Caring is a national grassroots faith-based drive led by youth that raises money for the hungry on Super Bowl Sunday.

Baer, 18, who was MVP of the 2001 Souper Bowl, is a student majoring in communications. She was selected based on her community involvement during the last campaign through her youth group at First Presbyterian Church in Brandon. The youth group raised money for Brandon Outreach Clinic, which provides health care to people who cannot afford medical care and for E.C.H.O, which provides food and clothing to people in need.

In 2000, the national committee invited all churches in the greater Tampa area to nominate a youth to be MVP because
it was the host city that year's Super Bowl. Baer was selected from all of those nominated.

Since starting college, Baer has continued her community service by joining Alpha Chi Omega Sorority and plans to help guide the new youth leadership in her home church. The Souper Bowl of Caring committee, based in Columbia, S. C. has set a goal of raising $4 million and increasing the number of groups participating in the 2002 campaign. In the last campaign, 12,500 churches and other organizations were involved in the project. Church members are asked to donate $1 each as they leave worship the morning of the big game on Feb. 3.

"Rachel Baer is a wonderful example of how youth can make a difference in their local community," said Rev. Brad Smith, Souper Bowl's executive director. "We want the young people to actually see how their fundraising efforts help those in need," he said.