NFL Cardinals Owner Michael Bidwill was "included among the 500-plus people who donated blood" yesterday at State Farm Stadium during a Cardinals blood drive. The Cardinals organization "will hold blood drives at State Farm Stadium on April 7 and 8" after yesterday's event "filled up so quickly." The team also donated $1M to the Arizona Coronavirus Relief Fund on March 24 (CRONKITE NEWS, 3/31)....Fiesta Bowl Charities is providing $1M to fill gaps for food services and youth programming in Arizona that are nonprofits' biggest shortfalls (Fiesta Bowl)....Coyotes President & CEO Ahron Cohen and President of Hockey Operations & GM John Chayka will donate 20% of their salaries over the coming months to support the Arizona Coronavirus Relief Fund and other Arizona nonprofits working to combat the virus' impact (Coyotes). Meanwhile, Arizona's major pro teams collaborated on a new video offering a positive message on the sports hiatus. It was the idea of Cardinals VP/Broadcasting & Digital Tim DeLaney, who coordinated with other teams (THE DAILY).
CONTINUING TO GIVE: Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment co-Managing Partners Josh Harris and David Blitzer, whose firm owns the Devils, made "two significant six-figure donations over the last few days," with the latest coming yesterday to RWJBarnabas, a team partner of the Devils. The donation was "made to the Emergency Response Fund." The Prudential Center, also owned by HBSE, on Monday "liquidated all supplies and the Devils donated 7,000 pairs of gloves, 10,000 hand sanitizers, soap and other sanitizing supplies." HBSE has "made it known that Prudential Center is available for use" should a "large-scale temporary medical facility need to be erected." Meanwhile, Prudential Center's hourly and event staff workers are "being supported through May 15" (Bergen RECORD, 4/1).
TEXANS LENDING A HAND: Texans coach Bill O'Brien and his wife, Colleen, are "donating $100,000 to the Houston Food Bank." The O'Briens join the McNair family, QB Deshaun Watson and OT Laremy Tunsil "among those with the Texans to make various contributions and commitments to help out the Houston community" (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 4/1). Meanwhile, Texans long snapper Jon Weeks yesterday "bought lunch for Houston firefighters and emergency city employees." Weeks and his daughter also "delivered a video message and thanked the first responders for their service" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 4/1).
OTHER DONATIONS: Royals Chair & CEO John Sherman made a donation on behalf of Royals investors, players and Royals Charities to Harvesters -- The Community Food Network, to fund more than 500,000 meals in the greater K.C. area (Royals)....Saints WR Deonte Harris donated the "equivalent of 10,740 meals to two food banks, with 6,240 going to the Second Harvest Food Bank in Louisiana and 4,500 meals donated to the Maryland Food Bank" (NOLA.com, 3/31)....The Greater Chicago Food Depository already has "dropped off more than 460,000 pounds of food at the United Center," which is temporarily being used as a storage facility (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 4/1)....Vanderbilt football coach Derek Mason is "collaborating with the university's local restaurant sponsors to deliver meals to those on the front lines of the current pandemic" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 4/1)....The Patriots and Revolution "joined with Massachusetts Military Support Foundation to provide 1.4 million meals to active duty military, veterans and their families" (BOSTON HERALD, 4/1).
