The NFL, through its Inspire Change platform and the Players Coalition, announced a donation of $3.05M to seven markets that have been significantly impacted by COVID-19: Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Detroit, Florida, Louisiana, and DC. The greater NFL family has donated more than $50M to date in support of COVID-19 relief (NFL).
OWNERS GIVE BIG: Vikings Owners the Wilf family have surpassed $5M in donations to COVID-19-related causes after making a $1M contribution to United Way Worldwide (Vikings)....Nets Owner Joe Tsai, who also owns the NLL San Diego Seals, and his wife, Clara, have "donated 500,000 medical-grade masks and goggles to UC San Diego." Some of the $1.6M in supplies are "being rushed to Sharp Medical Center Chula Vista" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 4/21)....The Magic, the DeVos family and locally-owned and operated Papa John's in Central Florida have teamed up to aid food insecure children and families by supporting Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. The DeVos family will contribute $50,000 and the Magic's longtime partner, Papa John's, will donate 25% of each online order they receive from April 21-May 20 (Magic).
BASEBALL KEEPS GOING: The Twins are donating "excess inventory" of Homer Hankies remaining from last season’s ALDS, which will be used to "make cotton face coverings to be delivered to healthcare systems, grocery workers and nonprofits." One Homer Hanky "can be made into five masks." Masks will "not be sold" (Minneapolis STAR-TRIBUNE, 4/21)....Nationals 1B Ryan Zimmerman, his teammates and coaches "got together online recently to relive last season’s World Series-winning Game 7, livestreaming their reactions as a replay" in order to "help the Zimmermans’ 'Pros for Heroes' charity campaign, which has raised more than $300,000 in less than a week to assist health care workers." The "stream of Game 7 itself raised more than $200,000" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 4/21)....The Rays joined the Bucs and Lightning in "making a $100,000 donation to St. Petersburg’s Fighting Chance Fund designed to help small businesses" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 4/21)....Orioles manager Brandon Hyde and Exec VP & GM Mike Elias yesterday donated enough Chick-fil-A to "feed the entire staff at Baltimore’s MedStar Harbor Hospital" (BALTIMORE SUN, 4/21).
COACHES HELPING COMMUNITIES: Saints coach Sean Payton, having been infected with coronavirus himself in March, is "hoping his plasma can help others." Payton yesterday "donated convalescent plasma" at the Blood Center in New Orleans, and "personnel at the facility said Payton's plasma will go to a local person in need" (NOLA.com, 4/20)....Hawks coach Lloyd Pierce and his wife, Melissa, "started The Atlanta Pledge, which shines a spotlight on two Atlanta-based nonprofit organizations, Hope Thru Soap and Atlanta Community Food Bank, that are helping those with immediate needs during the coronavirus crisis" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 4/21).
ESPORTS TOURNAMENT: Bud Light Seltzer is partnering with Call of Duty for a virtual tournament -- the Bud Light Seltzer Charity Royale Tournament -- featuring players from the MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL and NWSL to raise money for important charities that are helping those on the frontlines. The tournament begins tonight and will run on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday nights at 9:00pm ET through May 7. The event will stream on Bud Light’s Twitch Channel (Bud Light).
