The Knicks and their "celebrity fans are using Instagram to cheer those on the front lines battling the COVID-19 pandemic." Each night at 7:00pm ET, in "concert with a worldwide ritual of clapping," the Knicks are "using their Instagram to feature former players, celebrities and hometown heroes offering their personal tributes to those on the front lines." Special Assistant to the GM Allan Houston and his family on Sunday night "kicked things off" from their home. After a moment of silence in honor of those impacted by the coronavirus, the Houston family "began getting loud like fans at the Garden." Former NFLer Victor Cruz, Knicks F Kevin Knox and Basketball HOFer Walt “Clyde” Frazier also have participated or will participate in the initiative (N.Y. POST, 4/23).
OWNERS MAKE SIZABLE CONTRIBUTIONS: Lightning Owner Jeff Vinik and his wife, Penny, through the Lightning and the Vinik Family Foundation, have now put nearly $2M "toward COVID-19 relief." They have already "donated $300,000 to Metropolitan Ministries to go toward food and rent assistance," and on Tuesday, they "more than tripled that amount, adding another $700,000" for a total of $1M to the organization (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 4/23)....Members of the Rooney family and others involved in ownership of the Steelers "made donations to the Salvation Army and United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania." Led by President Art Rooney II, the Rooneys "contributed $250,000 to the large charitable organizations." Paul Evanson, Scott and Russ Swank, the Paul family and the Varischetti family were "among the minority partners who also made donations" (PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 4/23).
SPORTS STARS CONTINUE HELPING OUT: Dwyane Wade and his wife, Gabrielle Union, have "made five recent donations to organizations supporting health care for the LGBTQ community during the coronavirus crisis" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 4/23)....Mets 1B Pete Alonso and his fiancee, Haley Walsh, announced the "launch of their new foundation, Homers for Heroes." The nonprofit corporation "aims to honor 'unsung heroes' -- like teachers, coaches, medical professionals, first responders and veterans -- by shedding a light on the important work they are doing" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 4/23)....Red Wings G Jimmy Howard has "donated $50,000 worth of N95 masks to the Detroit Medical Center" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 4/23)....Cardinals WR DeAndre Hopkins is "partnering with Beyond Meat, pledging to donate and distribute more than 1 million Beyond Burgers over the next month across the country" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 4/23)....Wizards G Bradley Beal "donated 100 Giant grocery gift cards along with 50 computers to Ron Brown High School students in Northeast Washington." He also announced a "partnership with PepsiCo and its 'No Kid Hungry' campaign in a video posted to social media." PepsiCo is "matching individual donations" through April 30, up to $1M (WASHINGTON TIMES, 4/23).
