Community

Ching, Habitat making good on pledge

HOU_Ching_scarf

The Houston Dynamo and Brian Ching held a press conference on Tuesday to highlight a special ticket package available for fans for Saturday’s game against the Los Angeles Galaxy, kicking off at 7:30 p.m. 


A significant portion of the proceeds from these ticket packages will go toward “The House That Ching Built,” a Habitat for Humanity house in the Houston area.


“It’s an opportunity for me to give back to a community that has given me and my team so much over the years,” Ching said.


In exchange for $99, fans will receive two tickets, two Brian Ching scarves, and two passes to a postgame meet and greet with the Dynamo star forward. He’s already raised $40,000 of $65,000 to $75,000 needed to build a Habitat for Humanity House.


Get more information on a House That Ching Built package!

“The commitment that Brian has made is $75,000 for a full house, and that is what we hope to build in October,” noted Doug Garrison, volunteer board member and chairman of Houston Habitat for Humanity. “I want to extend our appreciation on behalf of our board and staff and partner families for the example and substantial contribution Brian and his effort has produced. It takes a lot of people collaborating together. Not all professional athletes use their power of celebrity to do the kind of uplifting things that Brian is demonstrating with this effort.”


“Some players get it and know they can take it to bigger and better things off the field, and Brian Ching is one of those players,” said Chris Canetti, chief operating officer of the Dynamo. “He’s thrilled us time and time again with his goals on the field, and now he’s continued to do things off the field with the House That Ching built as his focal point and just one of the things that he is doing in the community.”


Ching said he initially become invested in Habitat for Humanity after filming a public service announcement for the organization.


“I was really touched and moved by what was happening there,” said the Hawaiian native. “They were building houses for deserving families. The early part of my career, you don’t realize the attention or help you can bring an organization. This is the first big project I have gotten involved in. Seeing the amount of attention I can draw to this organization is uplifting.”