September 14, 200520 yr Duhon's relief effort raises 800K September 14, 2005 BY BRIAN HANLEY Staff Reporter Advertisement Bulls guard Chris Duhon's effort to help rebuild his hurricane-ravaged hometown of Slidell, La., continues this week with three scheduled supply drives and a fund-raising event tonight. Duhon, who initiated his Stand Tall Foundation immediately after Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast, has raised more than $800,000 in cash to help the estimated 10,000 left homeless in Slidell. ''It's going really well,'' said Duhon, who will host a $50-per-person fund-raiser from 6 to 8 tonight at Bella Lounge, 1212 N. State Pkwy. "We're just trying to raise as much as possible.'' Duhon said the donations to his foundation include $50,000 from Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf, as well as numerous gifts from the team's fans. The former Duke standout said his college community also has responded. ''I've talked to a lot of people down there who said the area is real bad,'' said Duhon, whose family was able to evacuate before the hurricane hit. ''It's going to take a while for people to get back on their feet. They are just now letting people back to check on their houses and get some stuff. But right now, it's not livable.'' That's why Duhon has set up supply drop-off points for those wishing to donate needed items. Donations will be collected from 11a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday in Lot K of the United Center, from 9a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the North Suburban YMCA in Northbrook (2705 Techny Road) and from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday at the Chicago Bulls/ White Sox Training Academy in Lisle (6200 River Bend Drive). Duhon said he will accompany the trucks transporting the donated items to Slidell. Checks can be sent to the Stand Tall Foundation, c/o Chris Duhon, P.O. Box 1343, Deerfield, IL. 60015. NOTES: Another Bulls guard, Ben Gordon, also will help raise money for victims of Hurricane Katrina. He will be among 15 current and former NBA and WNBA players to appear on NBA Week on "Wheel of Fortune.'' The pretaped shows will air Oct.31 through Nov. 4, with a minimum of $100,000 of the players' winnings going to the Red Cross. Simeon alumnus Bobby Simmons also will be on the show. *The Bulls will retire Scottie Pippen's No. 33 jersey at halftime of a Dec. 9 game against the Lakers. Phil Jackson, who coached Pippen and the Bulls to six NBA championships, will be on hand as coach of the Lakers.
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