FORT BLISS >> Dallas Cowboys' running back DeMarco Murray helped raise more than $16,000 during an auction on Saturday for the Salvation Army of El Paso's inaugural Heroes for the Homeless event.

"It is an honor to be here in El Paso to help support a very important organization like the Salvation Army," Murray said during his speech. "I first started getting involved with the organization after tornados hit Oklahoma (in 2013) and saw and read about what they were doing to help the people in the area that were left homeless. I wanted to do everything I could to help Oklahoma and so I teamed up with them. The Salvation Army is a great organization that has helped thousands of people across the nation."

Murray, who played college football at the University of Oklahoma, was the keynote speaker for the event at the Centennial Club at Fort Bliss. The event was attended by more than 250 people. Tickets were about $100 each.

Several items were auctioned during the event including autographed jerseys, helmets, photos and footballs. The highest selling item was a Murray jersey which sold for $3,500. The total amount raised during the auction was $16,500.