By WESLEY HALLMAN / Sports Editor

The HeartinDixie Foundation, along with UNITE|364, have added a charity benefit auction and a charity golf pro-am tournament to a lineup including a flag football contest to raise money for tornado relief in the state of Alabama.

The HeartinDixie Benefit and Pairings Party will take place Aug. 14 at 6 p.m. at the Birmingham Marriott at 3590 Grandview Parkway.

The HeartinDixie Charity Golf Pro-Am will begin Aug. 15 at 10 a.m. at the Greystone Golf and Country Club Founders Course.

The flag football contest featuring University of Alabama and Auburn University alumni will take place Aug. 13 at 7 p.m. at Jaguars Stadium at Spain Park High School.

All proceeds from the events will benefit The Governor’s Emergency Relief Fund, ServeAlabama.gov.

Auburn University athletic director Jay Jacobs and University of Alabama athletic director Mal Moore said the devastating storms the state saw in April put the school’s rivalry in perspective.

“HeartinDixie is a chance to show the nation and the world that we are united and committed in helping Alabama rebuild and recover,” Jacobs said. “We learn the most about each other in difficult times, and what we have learned about Alabamians since the devastating tornadoes is that what binds us together is much bigger than what sets us apart. These events are a great way to show our common resolve to emerge from the storms stronger than ever, and the Auburn family and our former letter winners are proud to be a part of it.”

Moore said the event will help keep the focus on the plight of storm victims.

“This weekend of events is a unique opportunity to provide assistance to our entire state,” Moore said. “ While the world has moved on, we still have much work to do. Events such as this not only serve as a reminder that we still have much to do, but also provides us with an opportunity to come together to accomplish a single goal.”

The HeartinDixie Foundation is comprised of both Alabama and Auburn committee members. Representing their respective universities, Alabama A-Club President Ken Wilder and Auburn Football Lettermen Club President Gordon Stone have worked together to ensure the success of these events.

The Alabama Sports Hall of Fame Executive Director Scott Myers is also collaborating with the efforts to include all Alabamians in this statewide effort.

“We’re honored to be a part of this extraordinary event,” said Alabama Sports Hall of Fame Executive Director Scott Myers. “We look forward to helping all Alabamians rebuild and recover from the devastating tornadoes.”

The charity golf pro-am events will take place following the PGA Championship in Atlanta. Birmingham’s Hubert Green will be the honorary host. Jerry Pate, Leonard Thompson, Steve Lowery, Michael Thompson and Boo Weekly have all committed to play in the pro-am. A complete list of PGA TOUR professionals will soon be announced.

Celebrity athletes participating in the weekend’s events include: Bo Jackson, Cornelius Bennett, Pat Dye, Ray Perkins, Al DelGreco, Bobby Humphrey, Stan White, Gene Stallings, Joe Cribbs and Lee Roy Jordan.

The HeartinDixie Foundation is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization comprised of athletes and supporters of Auburn University and the University of Alabama. The Foundation’s mission is to Help Every Alabamian Rebuild & Recover Together.

The organization was created as a collaborative effort under UNITE|364, a banner group of Alabama and Auburn supporters, to unify relief efforts following the 69 tornadoes that left a path of destruction through Alabama on April 27. More than 240 people lost their lives, hundreds were injured and thousands of homes and businesses were damaged or destroyed.

All money raised will benefit The Governor’s Emergency Relief Fund, ServeAlabama.gov. For more information about the HeartinDixie Foundation, visit RebuildRecover.com.