To donate to Pharr Crime Stoppers contact Janie Fuentes at (956) 223-7655. To report a crime and become eligible for a cash reward contact Pharr Crime Stoppers at (956) 787-8477.

EDINBURG - Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marcus Spears grabbed the rebound, dribbled to the top of the key and sank a 3-pointer.

The crowd at the University of Texas-Pan American Field House erupted as the 6-foot-4, 305-pound football player smiled and headed back on defense.

The shot earned his team 3 points as a squad of Dallas Cowboys players battled some local celebrities on the court. But more importantly, the shot - and Spears' very presence - scored some serious points for public safety in Pharr.

Pharr Crime Stoppers organized the game as a fundraiser Saturday afternoon at UTPA in Edinburg. On Friday night, the group organized a similar fundraiser game in Harlingen. All proceeds from the ticket sales - $10 for adults and $5 for ages 3-17 - benefit Pharr Crime Stoppers.

In both games, a team of Cowboys players took on local celebrities that included television newscasters, prominent community members and area politicians. Organizers declined to estimate how much money the games raised, explaining they had not yet tabulated the proceeds.

Crime Stoppers is a nationwide program aimed at fostering community involvement in solving crimes. Community members call Crime Stoppers hotlines, leave tips for law enforcement and receive cash rewards if their information leads to an arrest. The tipster can also choose to remain anonymous and receive his award through a code that can be redeemed at a bank.

The challenge, however, is for local, nonprofit Crime Stoppers organizations to raise money needed to reward the tipsters. That's where Spears and the basketball squad comprised of his fellow Cowboys came in.

For years, the Pharr Police Department has turned to the Cowboys for help raising money, said Pharr police Chief Ruben Villescas. It started about 15 years ago when representatives from the department met former Cowboys player Tony Hill in Dallas at a statewide meeting for Crime Stoppers programs.

"We have a very special relationship with the Dallas Cowboys," Villescas said.

Since then, players have signed footballs for fundraising raffles, attended various functions in Pharr and played softball and now basketball to raise money for the department.

And the end result is a safer community, Villescas said. Crime Stoppers has regularly helped Pharr police get drugs, criminals and fugitives off the street

Run by a board of community volunteers, the program has become one of the department's greatest crime-fighting tools, the chief said.

Crime Stoppers officials said events like Saturday's game play a vital role in making the program successful.

Janie Fuentes, president of Pharr Crime Stoppers, said the charity basketball game was her organization's biggest fundraiser this year. Even so, the organization can always benefit from donations.

Many of those in attendance paid little attention to the mission behind the event. Instead, they were focused on the gridiron gladiators.

Joining Spears was cornerback Terence Newman. And filling out the Cowboys squad was Pat Watkins, Sam Hurd, Quincy Butler and Stephen Bowen. Hill, the former Cowboys player, entertained the crowd with commentary.

At halftime, attendees got a chance to win signed footballs from the players.

Bryant Riley, 13, walked away with a signed football, which he planned to show off to his friends.

"It felt pretty good," he said of the experience.

The young fan also predicted this coming year would bring the Cowboys a Super Bowl victory. In what could be a sign of things to come, the Cowboys basketball squad trounced the local competition on the court, 109-86.
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Zack Quaintance covers law enforcement and general assignments for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4447.