Along with the vital PPE, Wickenheiser said that Volvo donated the use of six trucks and driversGETTY IMAGES
Maple Leafs Assistant Dir of Player Development Hayley Wickenheiser secured "critical supplies for front-line health-care workers fighting the coronavirus," picking up "over 200,000 masks and gloves" after making a plea for donations via social media. Actor Ryan Reynolds "assisted Wickenheiser's quest with a tweet of support and offers to donate have been pouring in." Along with the vital personal protection equipment, Wickenheiser said that Volvo "donated the use of six trucks and drivers" (TORONTO STAR, 4/7).
ORGANIZATIONS KEEP GIVING: The Predators Foundation starting yesterday began distributing "168 grants totaling $700,000 to local nonprofits this month" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 4/7)....Philabundance yesterday announced that Flyers Charities is "donating $250,000 to fight hunger across the Philadelphia area." The donation will allow the organization to "feed 160,000 people struggling with food needs" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 4/7)....The Charlotte Hornets Foundation is "pledging $250,000 to area charities and 1,000 volunteer hours in response to coronavirus relief efforts" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 4/7)....Pacers Owner Herb Simon and Colts Owner Jim Irsay are "teaming up to help those in need during the COVID-19 pandemic." If $200,000 is "donated by Thursday through a campaign led by United Way of Central Indiana," the pair will "add $420,000 to the pot" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 4/7)....Bills GM Brandon Beane is donating $20,000 in addition to "teaming with the United Way of Buffalo & Erie County to create a contest in hopes of encouraging others to donate to the recently established WNY Covid-19 Community Response Fund" (BUFFALO NEWS, 4/7).
PLAYERS CONTINUE TO HELP: Celtics F Jayson Tatum yesterday "pledged to match up to $250,000 in donations to the Greater Boston Food Bank." Tatum and Wizards G Bradley Beal, a fellow St. Louis native, also have "pledged to team up to match another $250,000 for the St. Louis Area Foodbank" (BOSTON GLOBE, 4/7)....Raiders CBs Nevin Lawson and Trayvon Mullen, who both grew up in Florida, yesterday partnered with Chick-fil-A to "provide more than 250 meals for emergency room COVID-19 response teams at four Florida hospitals" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 4/7)....Free-agent QB Jameis Winston has "teamed with surgeon Dr. Scott Kelley to launch a toll-free hotline to inform the public about the coronavirus" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 4/7)....Univ. of Tennessee men's basketball Gs Jordan Bowden and Lamonte Turner "established fundraisers to help organizations in need during the coronavirus pandemic." As of yesterday morning, "both fundraisers had almost reached their goals" (Knoxville NEWS SENTINEL, 4/7).
A NOTE OF ENCOURAGEMENT: Hockey HOFer Bobby Orr yesterday "sent a heartfelt letter of encouragement" to workers at Massachusetts General Hospital "dealing with the onslaught of coronavirus patients." Orr "referred to the MGH workers as 'heroes' for their ongoing fight against the pandemic," which as of yesterday afternoon had "claimed some 75,000 lives worldwide, including 260 in the Bay State" (BOSTON GLOBE, 4/7). Read the full letter.
