University of Michigan senior cornerback Troy Woolfolk is the latest college football player cashing in on his celebrity. Unlike many of his counterparts in the news lately, Woolfolk is doing so for charity.

Specifically, for pets.

Woolfolk along with several of his Michigan football teammates will act as celebrity waiters at a fundraiser named "Paws for a Cause," which will benefit Ann Arbor’s Humane Society of Huron Valley. Plates at the dinner range from $100-$2,500 with 100 percent of the proceeds to go toward the Humane Society.

Woolfolk -- an avid pet lover and owner of a cat and dog -- wanted to use his status as a football player to raise money for a cause he believes in.

Woolfolk said his coaches encourage athletes to get involved with charity work off the field, such as the team’s long standing and well-documented relationship with Mott Children’s Hospital. When he presented this idea to them, they were supportive.

“They’re always telling us to project a good image out there," Woolfolk said. "I think it’s a great way to use, like you said, your image for some good versus just getting yourself benefits and stuff.”

Woolfolk is getting his teammates and family involved. Among the celebrity waiters are Mike Martin, Devin Gardner and Brandon Herron. Woolfolk’s father, former all-time Michigan leading rusher Butch Woolfolk, flew in from Texas for the event as well.

“One of the main questions I got was, ‘Do I gotta wear one of them apron things?’” Woolfolk said. “They’re kind of excited to be learning the waiting business because most of them haven’t done it before, so it should be interesting.”

Along with coming up with idea for the event, Woolfolk has done most of promotion. He built a website where people can buy spots at the dinner or make donations, set up interviews with local media outlets and had his dad and other former Michigan greats sign a lithograph he intends to put up for auction.

Because anything involving the exchanging of money and current players raises red flags with NCAA, Woolfolk said he had plenty of hoops to jump through with the Michigan compliance office. “Number one thing we had to stress is that I’m not getting anything out of it,” Woolfolk said. “One hundred percent of the proceeds are going to the foundation, the Humane Society, and I basically had to make sure that compliance was knowing about every little specific detail.”

Spots are still available for the dinner, which will be held at the Sheraton Ann Arbor hotel (formerly Four Points Sheraton) Sunday from 5-8 p.m. To purchase tickets or to make a donation, visit Woolfolk’s website at www.pawsforacausebenefit.eventbrite.com.

Pete Cunningham covers sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at petercunningham@annarbor.com or by phone at 734-623-2561. Follow him on Twitter @petcunningham.