Simmons started the initiative to encourage Philadelphia locals to donate onlineNBAE/GETTY IMAGES
76ers G Ben Simmons "launched The Philly Pledge as a way for people to find local nonprofit organizations that are helping the less fortunate." The Philly Pledge "encourages locals to donate" online to the PHL COVID-19 Fund and hunger-relief organization Philabundance (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 3/31). 76ers Managing Partners Josh Harris and David Blitzer are "among the latest prominent figures in Philadelphia professional sports to support The Philly Pledge." Harris and Blitzer, through the team and the Sixers Youth Foundation, made an "undisclosed six-figure donation to Philabundance." The 76ers' donation will be "used to provide 20,000 boxes of food that will feed 160,000 people in the Philadelphia area" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 3/31).
ORGS PARTNER WITH RED CROSS: The NFL Cardinals are "partnering with Anheuser-Busch to host two blood drives next week at State Farm Stadium in conjunction with the American Red Cross." Next week's drives will "take place on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 7th and 8th" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 3/31)....Atlanta Motor Speedway and the American Red Cross will "host a blood drive on Monday, April 6" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 3/31).
OTHERS PITCH IN: Texans OT Laremy Tunsil has "committed up to $250,000 toward coronavirus relief." That "includes donations to the Florida Gateway Food Bank in his hometown of Lake City, Fla., and the Star of Hope mission" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 3/31)....XFL Houston Roughnecks LB Brian Peters is "donating half of his remaining five paychecks to food banks, medical workers and other coronavirus-related causes" (SI.com, 3/30)....SMU QB Shane Buechele yesterday on Twitter announced that he "started a GoFundMe page to benefit the City of Dallas Emergency Assistance Fund." The fund has a "goal of $50,000" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 3/31)....Bulls G Ryan Arcidiacono yesterday committed "meals to the staffs of Lawndale Christian Health Center and Suder Montessori Magnet School" in the Chicago area (NBCSPORTSCHICAGO.com, 3/30).
