Basketball Football

Michael Jordan, Steph Curry, UNC football donate to Hurricane Florence relief efforts

By Jon Ackerman Sep 21, 2018
UNC football equipment truck (Photo courtesy of Twitter/@TarHeelFootball)

The worst of Hurricane Florence has passed, but many lives have been left in tatters due to the storm ripping through the Carolinas. At least 42 people have been pronounced dead due to the hurricane.

At one point, according to USA Today, nearly 900,000 people were without power in North Carolina, along with almost 100,000 in South Carolina. As of Friday morning, more than 55,000 people in North Carolina remained without power along with another 1,000 in South Carolina.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said it’s too soon to accurately estimate the cost of damage in his state, but it will surely add up to billions of dollars. South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster estimated damage in his state at $1.2 billion, the worst disaster in the state’s modern history.

“The flooding is like nothing we have ever seen,” Cooper said. “People in hard hit communities do want to go back, but many are still having to wait.”

Athletes across the nation are doing what they can to help, especially those with ties to the Carolinas. Leading the way is Michael Jordan, owner of the Charlotte Hornets, who are partnering with local organizations for relief efforts. Jordan also said he himself would donate $2 million.

Also from the NBA, stars Steph Curry, Chris Paul and John Wall have joined efforts to raise funds, starting with Paul donating $25,000, an amount matched by the NBA Players Association.

At the University of North Carolina, the football team set out to fill its 18-wheel equipment truck with donated items. Former Tar Heel linebacker Kevin Reddick asked UNC if it could help his hometown of New Bern, N.C., and the football players responded by donating their per diem money.

The truck plans to leave Chapel Hill on Friday, but will reload and visit other locations as deemed possible.

Even the University of Houston chipped in, led by men’s basketball coach Kelvin Sampson. He’s from Pembroke, N.C., and endured Hurricane Harvey with everyone else in Houston last year. Athletes from multiple teams helped load supplies into one of the football team’s equipment trailers.

“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.” — Proverbs 3:27

RELATED STORIES:
— Nate Solder, New York Giants visited Puerto Rico to aid hurricane relief efforts
— Texans QB Deshaun Watson donates first game check to employees affected by Harvey
— Stephen Curry donates $118,000 to Houston families affected by Hurricane Harvey
— Former NFL running back Justin Forsett travels to Puerto Rico to help hurricane victims

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