The Jets yesterday "made a significant contribution in efforts to curb the coronavirus spread" as the Johnson Family has made a $1M "joint donation to multiple local United Way agencies" (N.Y. POST, 3/24)....The Packers will establish COVID-19 Community Relief Funds totaling $1.5M through Packers Give Back to assist efforts in Brown County and the Milwaukee area (Packers)....Browns and Crew Owners Jimmy and Dee Haslem pledged $1.5M to COVID-19 relief funds in Ohio, "specifically in Cleveland and Columbus" (CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER, 3/24).
FOOTBALL CARES: Vikings TE Kyle Rudolph and his wife, Jordan, have "set an overall goal of helping raise $200,000 for Second Harvest Heartland, which will provide 600,000 meals for local families." The Thielen Foundation, on behalf of Vikings WR Adam Thielen and his wife, Caitlan, will "donate $25,000 to Second Harvest Heartland." LB Anthony Barr, through his Raise the Barr Foundation, is "offering $500 emergency grants to current or former Raise the Barr scholarship recipients" (GRAND FORKS HERALD, 3/24)....The Steelers announced a $100,000 "donation to the United Way Emergency Basic Needs Fund." LB T.J. Watt also "donated his time and money to 412 Food Rescue, a local nonprofit" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 3/24)....Rams WR Brandin Cooks has announced a "donation of $50,000 to his hometown of Stockton, CA, to establish the Stockton Children's Fund" (NBCSPORTS.com, 3/23).
BASEBALL, TOO: Mets P Marcus Stroman has "launched a 'COVID-19 Emergency Response' on his HDMH Foundation website to support the Food Bank for New York City and Long Island Cares" (NEWSDAY, 3/24)....Yesterday, Pirates' players "arranged a delivery of 400 pizzas to the staff at Allegheny General Hospital" to help "hospital workers who are providing care to those affected by the coronavirus pandemic" (ESPN.com, 3/23).
ORGANIZATIONAL EFFORTS: Las Vegas Motor Speedway will "host four Red Cross blood drives beginning Friday at the media center in the track infield" from 10:00am-3:00pm PT to "help offset a blood supply shortage during the coronavirus pandemic." Other drives will be April 2, April 7 and April 11 (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 3/24)....Local broadcasters from the Nationals, Capitals, Wizards, Redskins and DC United yesterday announced that they have "formed 'Voices of DC: Helping to feed the city,' a cause that will donate money to three local charities." Fans can "purchase a personalized video message from play-by-play men like the Capitals’ John Walton and the Redskins’ Larry Michael for a minimum $25 through the website, Cameo." All proceeds will "go to Capital Area Food Bank, DC Central Kitchen and Martha’s Table" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 3/24).
SOCIAL MEDIA SUCCESS: Former NBAer Rex Chapman has "built a massive Twitter following by posting humorous videos that are often retweeted by thousands of followers," and now he is "working to mobilize his 576,000 followers to help raise money for coronavirus relief efforts." His Rex Chapman Foundation has partnered with the Bluegrass Community Foundation to create the Rex Chapman Foundation COVID-19 Relief Fund to raise money to go to any nonprofit organizations. As of yesterday afternoon, more than 2,000 people had donated to the relief fund in the previous 24 hours (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 3/24).
