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Yahoo Sports good news tracker: Carmelo Anthony announces scholarships for 32 students

Welcome to the Yahoo Sports good news tracker, where we shine a little sunshine amid the dreary news taking over our news feeds. Even though basically everything is canceled due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, there is still awesome stuff happening in the world of sports.

Track the good news with us at Yahoo Sports. (Amber Matsumoto)
Track the good news with us at Yahoo Sports.

Prepare to feel warm and fuzzy. And check back in when you need a pick-me-up.

Carmelo Anthony announces scholarships for 32 students

Portland Trail Blazers forward Carmelo Anthony wants to gives students a role model he never had. Anthony, 35, announced 32 scholarships for students Wednesday as part of his association with Jordan Brand.

Anthony appeared in a video congratulating the class of 2024.

The students will receive “a four-year scholarship to the university of their choice or any post-secondary education program,” according to CBS Sports.

Anthony spoke to CBS Sports about the scholarships, saying he wanted to be a male role model in his community.

"That was lacking in our community," Anthony, who grew up in Baltimore, told CBS Sports. "Who were the figures that we looked up to? Who were the male figures for the kids who didn't have male figures in their lives, such as myself? Trying to look and sort out and seek who's the right person to get that information from, because you're so closed in, and closed off, and on edge just from being in that environment and living in that environment. It's hard to trust people. So once you find that trust, it means a lot."

Russell Westbrook donates meals to hometown hospital

Houston Rockets star Russell Westbrook is trying to help those who need it most. On Friday, Westbrook, 31, donated meals to workers at Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital in California.

Westbrook visited the hospital — while wearing a mask and gloves — to hand out meals and take a picture with hospital workers.

Westbrook donated the meals as part of his Why Not? Foundation.

Magic Johnson’s company will loan $100M to minority-owned businesses

Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson is a making sure businesses in need get the money they deserve. EquiTrust Life Insurance Co., along with MBE Capital Partners, are partnering to loan $100 million to minority- and women-owned companies, according to the Wall Street Journal. Johnson owns a controlling interest in EquiTrust Life Insurance Co.

Johnson appeared on MSNBC to discuss the loan, saying the businesses chosen “have been the pillar of our community.”

"These are incredible businesses, small businesses, that have been the pillar of our community that also employ a lot of black and brown people in our community," Johnson said during an appearance on MSNBC.

Johnson, 60, has spoken out about the coronavirus pandemic, including its impact on the African American community.

Chad Johnson leaves big tip for restaurant that reopened amid pandemic

Former NFL All-Pro receiver Chad Johnson wanted restaurant workers to know Johnson appreciates them. Johnson went to a restaurant that reopened amid the coronavirus pandemic and left workers a $1,000 tip.

At the bottom of the receipt, Johnson told workers he loved them.

Johnson, who briefly went by Chad Ochocinco during his career, was a six-time Pro Bowler and a two-time All Pro over his 11 seasons in the NFL, the majority of which came with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Tobias Harris donating meals, books and mortgage assistance to Philadelphia families

76ers forward Tobias Harris making several different donations in the Philadelphia area this week to help with coronavirus relief.

Harris, the team announced on Monday, is providing three months of mortgage payment assistance to 12 families in the Philadelphia area through Habitat for Humanity. He’ll also donate lunch from Chick-Fil-A to 250 health care workers at Temple University Hospital and donate 20,000 children’s books for home libraries in the city.

“We’re experiencing one of the biggest crises in the history of humankind,” Harris said in a statement, via NBC Sports. “Being able to provide kindness to people putting their lives at risk in hospitals and supporting Philadelphia families in dire need of help is an important responsibility for me.”

Eloy Jimenez donates gift cards to employees making masks

Chicago White Sox outfielder Eloy Jimenez donated $1,000 to every employee at a local bridal shop, according to James Fegan of The Athletic.

That bridal shop, Novias Davila, has started making face masks to hand out to those in need.

Jimenez donated $500 and gave a $500 Jewel gift card to every employee at Novias Davila. Jewel is a grocery chain in Chicago.

The 23-year-old Jimenez said it was important to support the Latino community. Novias Davila is located in Little Village, a Chicago neighborhood with a large Hispanic population.

76ers’ Mike Scott helps donate meals to children’s hospital

Philadelphia 76ers forward Mike Scott teamed up with Red Bull to donate 600 meals to the overnight staff at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Scott said he wanted to donate to hospital employees he believes are commonly overlooked. Many special gestures are done during daytime hours and therefore miss the overnight shift personnel who continue to take care of patients.

"I am honored to be able to provide meals for the overnight staff for CHOP as they are often overlooked, but still working while many of us are sleeping,” Scott said. “I wanted to thank them for their dedication to others on a daily basis.”

Aaron Judge, Carli Lloyd, Drew Brees and many more celebrate frontline healthcare workers

More than 30 athletes have teamed up to honor frontline healthcare workers in a new video for The Real Heroes Project. Athletes from 14 sports leagues including Aaron Judge, Christian Yelich, Drew Brees, DeAndre Hopkins, Carli Lloyd, Kyle Busch, Wayne Gretzky, Donovan Mitchell, and more shot videos in their homes to celebrate individual frontline healthcare workers.

The athletes put tape over their own names on their jerseys and wrote in the name of a frontline healthcare worker that they wanted to honor, and shared messages of support and encouragement.

Phillies host virtual pizza party for 350 employees

The Philadelphia Phillies wanted their employees to enjoy some pizza amid the coronavirus. The team purchased pizza for roughly 350 employees, and held a virtual pizza party to celebrate the moment, according to Jim Salisbury of NBCSports.

Thirty-two employees were designated as pizza captains and were responsible for getting and placing orders from other employees. In total, 280 pizzas were ordered and 180 local pizza shops were supported, according to Salisbury.

A couple prominent Phillies even hopped on the call to surprise employees. Both manager Joe Girardi and utility man Scott Kingery were present. Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins also joined the call.

MLBPA’s Players Trust donates $100,000 to Donors Choose

The MLBPA’s Players Trust is trying to help teachers get the equipment they need to keep teaching classes. The trust donated $100,000 to Donors Choose, and organization that buys materials for teachers in need.

Rory McIlroy to take part in charity golf match

Rory McIlroy will help bring back golf as part of a charity golf event with a $3 million purse. Proceeds from the event —TaylorMade Driving Relief — will go to American Nurse Foundation and CDC Foundation.

On top of that donation, Farmers Insurance will give $1 million to Off Their Plate, an organization that provides meals to frontline healthcare workers.

McIlroy will team up with Dustin Johnson for the event. They’ll take on Rickie Fowler and Matthew Wolff. The event will take place May 17 at Seminole Golf Club in Florida.

NBA players, NBPA Foundation have given $5.5 million

NBA players and the NBPA Foundation have donated quite a bit to nonprofits amid the coronavirus pandemic. Since the pandemic began, 97 NBA players and the NBPA Foundation — a philanthropic part of the players union — have donated at total of $5.5 million to nonprofits, according to Forbes.

During the coronavirus pandemic alone 97 NBA players and the NBPA Foundation have donated $5.5 million combined to nonprofits to assist in the relief effort. That amount will only go up as things continue. Some of grants the NBPA Foundation has matched so far include Karl-Anthony Towns $100,000 donation to the Mayo Clinic - bringing the total to $125,000, the Antetokoumpo brother’s donation to assist Athens and Drummond’s contribution to the Middlesex Health’s Emergency Response Fund.

As the article states, the NBPA Foundation has matched a number of player donations. So when Karl-Anthony Towns donates $100,000 to the Mayo Clinic, the NBPA Foundation also chips in $100,000 to that cause.

A number of NBA players have donated or assisted those in need during the pandemic, including Giannis Antetokounmpo, Marcus Smart, Zion Williamson and Russell Westbrook, among many others.

Jameis Winston donates meals in Tampa

Though he may not be a member of the Buccaneers anymore, Jameis Winston didn’t let that stop him from helping out the community he’s called home for the past five years.

Winston, who has since reached a deal with the New Orleans Saints, and his wife spent a few hours on Saturday donating meals to families in need in Tampa, Florida.

“This is my city, so I’m happy to do whatever I can to make a positive impact on the city,” Winston said, via The Athletic. “I live here. I’m a resident here, so despite where I’m playing, I’m always going to serve my community.”

Giancarlo Stanton donates PPE to NY, SoCal hospitals

New York Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton is donating 15,000 face shields to underserved hospitals in New York and Los Angeles to assist medical workers in the fight against COVID-19.

“The African-American and Latino communities are hit the hardest, Stanton told the Los Angeles Times. Those hospitals have the least resources. They were depleted.”

According to the New York Post, Stanton has donated 6,000 to hospitals in each region and plans to donate another 3,000 in conjunction with Voodoo Manufacturing, which has put its 200 3D printers to work manufacturing medical equipment.

Yu Darvish donates $43,000 from his YouTube channel

Chicago Cubs starter Yu Darvish earned $43,000 from his popular YouTube channel in November. Darvish decided to donate that money to two good causes, according to Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times.

Half of the money was donated to a cancer research center. The other half was given to a non-profit that supports single-mother households.

Darvish is in the middle of a six-year, $126 million deal with the Cubs. After a strong second half in 2019, Darvish is poised to be the team’s best starter in 2020.

Ed Reed providing lunch for students who aren’t in school

Former Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed is providing lunches to some students at Booker T. Washington Middle School in Baltimore while the doors are closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the team. All of the students at the school receive free or reduced lunch when school is in session.

According to the team, 10-meal boxes will be distributed to students weekly on a first-come, first-serve basis through the Reed Feeds foundation.

Marcus Smart pays for hundreds of hospital workers’ meals after COVID-19 recovery

A few weeks after he was cleared of a case of coronavirus, Marcus Smart is helping take care of the workers on the frontlines of the battle.

Smart will provide 425 meals to hospital workers across New England, according to ESPN’s Tim Bontemps.

Smart was cleared of the virus at the end of March and has since pledged to donate his blood to the National COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma Project to assist in research.

Patriots’ McCourty twins buy hundreds of of Chromebooks for students

Devin and Jason McCourty grew up together and play for the New England Patriots together, so it’s only right that they help hundreds of students in their hometown together.

The Patriots defensive backs will donate $90,000 Chromebooks to students who don’t have access to computers at home in Rockland County, New York. With so many schools going virtual amid the coronavirus pandemic, the technology gap between students has only become more pronounced and in need of fixing.

NFL Players Coalition donates $3M to hospitals and nonprofits

The NFL Players Coalition wants to help those in need. The organization — which was founded by Malcolm Jenkins and Anquan Boldin — has donated $3 million to hospitals and nonprofits in black communities in multiple cities.

The African American community has been affected by the virus at an extremely high rate, according to the CDC.

McCourty brothers give back

According to ESPN Patriots reporter Mike Reiss, Devin and Jason McCourty have pledged to buy $90,000 worth of laptops for students in Rockland County, New York who don’t have access to computers during the coronavirus shutdown.

The New England defensive backs and brothers grew up in the area just north of New York City and are giving back to the community.

Michael Jordan reportedly donating “The Last Dance” proceeds to charity

Michael Jordan didn’t do ESPN’s “The Last Dance” for free, but he’s not going to see any money for participating. According to Forbes, Jordan will be donating his “The Last Dance” proceeds to charity. The recipient of the money remains unknown, but Jordan is estimated to receive between $3 million and $4 million for his role in the 10-part deep dive into his career with the Chicago Bulls.

Khalil Mack donates $350,000 for COVID-19 relief in Chicago

Chicago Bears linebacker Khalil Mack has donated $350,000 to the COVID-19 relief fund organized by A Better Chicago, a philanthropy venture that supports initiatives that serve low-income youth. The money will immediately be distributed to local nonprofits providing critical support to vulnerable communities.

“I am blessed to be able to assist the community and excited to have others who have stepped up and partnered with me on this,” Mack said, via a press release. “A Better Chicago is on the ground and satisfying the immediate needs of so many. Let’s not stop here, the effects of COVID are far from over.”

Eagles and owner Jeff Lurie donating $1 million to COVID-19 relief

Jeff Lurie and the Philadelphia Eagles announced on Tuesday that they are donating $1 million to assist in COVID-19 relief in the Philadelphia area. It’s not going to one place, but will be divided among a number of causes and charities around the city. The majority of the money is focused on helping essential medical workers and their families.

Lurie and the Eagles donated $1 million to Penn Medicine at the beginning of April to fund COVID-10 testing and research.

Bills coach Sean McDermott feeds local health workers

Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott and his family have pledged $15,000 for COVID-19 relief efforts in Western New York, the Bills announced on Monday.

McDermott and his wife Jamie have also worked with local restaurant The Grange Community Kitchen to provide 500 meals to staff at local hospitals.

Angels pay $1.2M to out-of-work game-day employees

The Los Angeles Angels announced that they have paid out $1.2 million to game-day employees missing work because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The move is part of a larger MLB effort promising that each team will pay at least $1 million to workers affected by the crisis.

The money is being sent to around 1,800 employees. The team announced that it will determine that status of future payments as events warrant, according to the Orange County Register.

Duke, Mike Krzyzewski make surprise $225K donation to food bank

Duke men’s basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski surprised a North Carolina food bank manager with a donation of $225,000 on Friday during a livestream. Coach K and Duke are partnering to donate the funds to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina.

“That’s amazing, that’s gonna make a huge impact in the work we’re doing right now,” manager Jennifer Caslin said. You can watch the full announcement here:

Bismack Biyombo donating $1 million in medical supplies to native Congo

Even though Charlotte Hornets center Bismack Biyombo on the other side of the world, he’s working to make a difference in his home country.

The 27-year-old is donating $1 million worth of medical supplies to hospitals and clinics in the Democratic Republic of the Congo through his foundation, and is expected to provide 10,000 medical masks, almost 800 hazmat suits and medical beds. He’s working to find incubators to donate, too, and hoping to keep expanding the project.

The central African country had less than 300 confirmed cases of the coronavirus as of Friday night, but Biyombo knows how much of a difference the supplies can make for the nation still in a fight against Ebola.

“Let’s try to figure a way that we do this on a bigger scale and see how many people we can reach,” Biyombo said. “Let’s try to get as many clinics and hospitals equipped with something that they can treat the patients and protect doctors and nurses. That’s the motivation behind it.

“There are people on the ground who have been tremendously supportive in this process and putting our efforts together to save as many lives as possible.”

Colin Kaepernick donates $100,000 to coronavirus relief fund to help people of color

Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick donated $100,000 to the Know Your Rights Camp COVID-19 Relief Fund on Thursday morning. The goal of the fund, he said, is to help “address the disproportionate affect the pandemic is having on” communities of color.

“Black and brown communities are being disproportionately devastated by COVID-19 because of hundreds of years of structural racism,” Kaepernick said in a Twitter video. “That’s why we’ve established the Know Your Rights Camp COVID-19 Fund to help address these issues.”

Former Astros CF Michael Bourne waives tenants rent

Former Houston Astros centerfielder Michael Bourne owns three different apartment complexes in the Houston area, with about 60 tenants in total.

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, with so many people out of work, Bourne was concerned about how his residents would be able to pay their rent.

So, he waived it completely — and will likely do the same thing next month.

Chris and Kyle Long hosting virtual happy hour, raising $200,000 for bartenders in need

Former NFL lineman and brothers Chris and Kyle Long have teamed up with Canadian whisky brand Crown Royal to host a virtual happy hour.

Every time someone shares a post to social media using the hashtag #GenerosityHour, Crown Royal will donate $1 to bartenders in need through the United States’ Bartender Guilds’ Emergency Assistance Fund, up to $200,000.

“In addition to those fighting on the frontlines of COVID-19, millions of individuals are out of work right now,” Chris told Yahoo Sports. “From concession stands around NFL stadiums to your favorite local hangout spot, we take for granted the hard work bartenders do, and right now, this industry has come to a screeching halt. In light of that, Kyle and I wanted to help out and took advantage of this opportunity to do so with Crown Royal.”

James Harden to help provide 8 weeks of groceries to 600 Houston families

Houston Rockets star James Harden is teaming up with grocery chain Kroger to provide eight weeks of groceries to 600 Houston families. Food pantries in five areas of Houston will distribute the groceries, which will include fresh meat, produce, bread, milk, and staple canned goods.

Harden is assisting the program through his foundation 3 The Harden Way, which was established to provide financial support for high-achieving students in the Houston area who are facing economic hardships. The grocery program will run from April 16 to June 4.

Anthony Rizzo sends coronavirus care packages to cancer families

Anthony Rizzo’s family foundation typically focuses on raising money for cancer research and supporting families who are fighting cancer, and he found a way to continue doing that during the coronavirus outbreak.

Rizzo and his foundation has sent care packages to 30 cancer families to help keep their homes germ free. Each package contained latex gloves, hand sanitizer, cleaning spray, and an autographed picture of Rizzo himself.

Bucs owners donate $100,000 to help small businesses

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers want to make sure small businesses are able to succeed while the rest of the world is shut down. The Glazer family, which owns the team, donated $100,000 to the City of St. Petersburg to help small businesses stay afloat.

That donation “provides the critical resources that so many small business owners in the area need at a time like this,” according to team co-owner Darcie Glazer Kassewitz.

The team also donated $100,000 to the One Tampa fund, which “provides direct payments to mortgage servicers, landlords or electric companies for qualified businesses and individuals within the City of Tampa.”

Gregg Popovich gives pep talk to San Antonio food bank workers

San Antonio Spurs coach is using his talents to help those in need. Popovich spoke with members of the San Antonio Food Bank on Monday. Popovich sent words of encouragement to the group as it attempts to provide meals for those impacted by coronavirus.

Popovich, 71, was even asked about benching Tim Duncan during the 2013 NBA Finals. Instead of giving his typical gruff answer, Popovich actually went into detail on why he made that decison.

Quinnen Williams donates $25,000 worth of meals to healthcare workers

New York Jets lineman Quinnen Williams wants medical professionals to know he appreciates them. Williams donated $25,000 worth of healthy meals to healthcare workers in New Jersey, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Williams’ private chef put all the meals together. We’re not sure who added the picture of a smiling Williams on every box, but we appreciate the gesture.

Jaguars players step up to help those in need during coronavirus pandemic

Multiple members of the Jacksonville Jaguars are donating to help those affected by coronavirus. The team put out a release Tuesday detailing all the things its players are doing to help those in need during the pandemic.

Among those players is running back Leonard Fournette, who is donating 7,000 meals per week to Second Harvest over the next eight weeks.

Guard Tyler Shatley is donating $10,000 to organizations feeding senior citizens in Florida. Defensive tackle Carl Davis is donating to make sure veterans receive meals.

Kick Josh Lambo and receivers Chris Conley and DJ Chark have also donated to various causes. Lambo is trying to help those who want to adopt dogs. Conley is raising money for the World Health Organization and Chark is putting money together to help small businesses.

Russell Westbrook donates 650 laptops to Houston students

With many schools working remotely, it has never been more important for students to have access to technology that allows them to keep pace with their studies.

Houston Rockets star Russell Westbrook made it much easier for several hundred students to do just that, donating 650 laptops through his Why Not? Foundation and student technology non-profit Comp U Dot to Houston students.

Houston mayor Sylvester Turner lauded the donation on Monday.

Christian Yelich among those to donate to Brewers’ employee fund

A number of Milwaukee Brewers players are donating money to the team’s $1 million employee fund. Ryan Braun and Christian Yelich are among those helping out team employees. They were joined by Lorenzo Cain, Corey Knebel, Josh Lindblom and Brent Suter in the cause. Brewers announcer Bob Uecker is also contributing to the team’s fund.

Browns donating uniform sales to healthcare workers

The Cleveland Browns are trying to build some goodwill for their upcoming jersey release. When the team unveils its new uniforms Wednesday, 100 percent of the sales from the team’s pro shop will go toward helping healthcare workers, according to NFL.com.

The team says it will donate 100 percent of jersey sales for a “significant period of time.”

Fans looking to take advantage of the team’s offer must order jerseys from the team’s FirstEnergy Stadium Pro Shop. Since in-store purchases are currently unavailable, the team has set up a phone number so fans can call in and place their orders.

Braves taking care of employees

With no beginning to the Major League Baseball season in sight, the Atlanta Braves are still taking care of full-time and part-time employees.

All 30 teams committed to paying staff until April 30 following a $1 million pledge by each club in mid-March. The Braves are the first known team to extend that through May.

Though not obligated to do so, it’s the right thing to do given the unusual circumstances and uncertainty that surrounds the 2020 season.

Justin Verlander, Kate Upton donate to Houston Foodbank

Houston Astros ace Justin Verlander and wife Kate Upton have donated to the Houston Foodbank and Feeding America. The two announced a donation in a video, where they encouraged others to help if they can.

The two did not announce how much money they donated to the cause, but said they wanted chose those two organizations so people in need could have a meal on Easter.

Harry Giles surprises crying girl from suspended Kings game

One of the most indelible images from the night the NBA shut down was a young girl crying at a Sacramento Kings game. Her tear-stained face and broken heart reflected how many people felt about the temporary end of life as we knew it and the indefinite stoppage of sports.

That girl’s name is Sophie, and Kings player Harry Giles wanted to make her feel better. So he recently sent her and her brother a sweet video message. He apologized for the way their last game ended, and to make up for it, he invited them to a Kings game when sports are back underway. Not surprisingly, Sophie was extremely excited.

Mike Evans donates $100,000 to coronavirus relief efforts

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans is donating $100,000 to coronavirus relief efforts. Through his Mike Evans Family Foundation, $50,000 will be donated to the United Way Suncoast, which will help people in the Tampa Bay area. Another $50,000 will be donated to a charity serving his hometown of Galveston, Tex.

The $50,000 Evans is donating to United Way Suncoast will help 53,000 individuals in need across 31,000 households.

D.K. Metcalf donates $50,000 to help in fight against coronavirus

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver D.K. Metcalf is donating $50,000 to help in the fight against coronavirus, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Half of that will go to Swedish hospital in Seattle. The other half will be used by buy meals for people in Oxford, Mississippi. Metcalf grew up in Oxford.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar donates goggles to doctors and nurses

As far as coronavirus donations go, it doesn’t get more natural than this.

Los Angeles Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar announced Tuesday that he has donated 900 pairs of safety goggle to doctors, nurses and staff fighting coronavirus at UCLA Health, the name sponsor of the Lakers’ training facility.

“I am honored to be able to use whatever resources I can to help UCLA Health continue its courageous and necessary work to protect the health of our community,” Abdul-Jabbar said in a release.

Former 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr. donates $2.6M

Former San Francisco 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr. and his wife Candy have donated $2.65 million to Tampa General Hospital, the Tampa Bay Times reports. The donation is part of a greater $7.65 million donation the couple has made to the hospital and will be earmarked to develop a long-term COVID-19 unit, according to the report.

Allie LaForce and Astros pitcher Joe Smith donate meals to hospital

TNT broadcaster Allie LaForce and her husband, Houston Astros pitcher Joe Smith, donated 350 to 500 meals to Houston’s Lyndon B. Johnson hospital on Tuesday, according to the Houston Chronicle.

The couple’s HelpCureHD Foundation partnered with Project FRONTLINE on the project. They also reportedly plan to pay for 300 meals at Mercy Hospital in Lorain, Ohio, where LaForce’s sister is a third-year medical student.

Nationals teaming up with chef José Andrés to feed community

The Washington Nationals’ new foundation, Nationals Philanthropies, is teaming up with DC-area celebrity chef José Andrés and his non-profit organization, World Central Kitchen, to feed people in need in Washington DC.

According to Eater, the city signed off on a plan that will allow the Nationals and Andrés to turn Nationals Park into a community kitchen. Dinners will be brought to several DC neighborhoods, and the list of recipients is expected to grow with help from other community organizations.

Two enormous kitchens at Nats Park will be used to make these meals, and Tuesday is the first day meals will be produced and delivered. Capacity is starting at 1,000 meals a day, but they hope to raise it to 5,000 meals a day by the end of the week — and 10,000-plus soon after.

Isaiah Thomas helping local business by feeding medical workers

Former Boston Celtics star Isaiah Thomas found a great way to support both people and business in Seattle: he’s ordering from a local Seattle restaurant and donating to food to feed overworked frontline medical workers in the University of Washington’s hospital system.

Thomas will be using Pagliacci’s Pizza to feed frontline hospital staff on April 7 and 14.

Hornets donate $250,000 to coronavirus relief efforts

The Charlotte Hornets are donating $250,000 to coronavirus relief efforts. The team made the announcement Monday, and highlighted the other ways in which it has responded to the pandemic.

The funds from the team’s $250,000 donation will go to the Foundation for the Carolinas, the United Way and “several other local non-profit organizations.”

Carson Wentz’ foundation donates $100K for meals, groceries

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz and his AO1 Foundation are donating $100,000 to Love From The Crumb, a new campaign launched in response to the crisis.

The initiative supplies bags of groceries to struggling families and meals delivered to people fighting the virus on the front lines. The group also distributes supplies and brings the “love and hope of Jesus Christ to thousands of people.”

Bills donating special experiences to raise money for first responders

The Buffalo Bills are raising money for the Western New York COVID-19 Community Response Fund, and to entice fans to donate they’re giving away a number of special experiences and pieces of signed memorabilia. From April 6 through April 17, anyone who makes a donation on the fund’s website will be entered to win several different fan experiences with general manager Brandon Beane, like a one-on-one video call, attending lunch or a Bills practice with him, and the opportunity to be on the phone with him when he calls in the Bills’ first-round draft pick.

If lunching with the Bills GM isn’t your speed, they’re also giving away a signed Josh Allen jersey, a Bills helmet autographed by all their 2020 draft picks, and four 100-level tickets to the team’s home opener. The money will go to Western New York community organizations that are supporting first responders who are on the front lines of fighting COVID-19.

Jim Irsay donating 10,000 masks to Department of Health

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay will donate 10,000 masks to the Indiana State Department of Health. Irsay, 60, made the announcement on Twitter on Sunday.

The masks will reportedly be distributed to the hospitals that need masks the most. The masks will help healthcare workers who are caring for those dealing with coronavirus.

Kings turning old arena into coronavirus hospital, donating masks

The Sacramento Kings’ old arena, Sleep Train Arena, will be turned into a coronavirus surge hospital. The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services announced on Friday that the California Department of Public Health and the US Army Corps of Engineers will collaborate to turn the empty arena and practice facility into a 360-bed surge field hospital that will provide critical medical services for coronavirus and trauma care patients.

In a statement, Kings owner Vivek Ranadivé also announced that the team is donating $250,000 to community organizations providing resources to vulnerable families, and will donate 100,000 medical masks to state and city health agencies.

Rams raise $2.3 million, read mean tweets about new logo

The Los Angeles Rams helped to raise more than $2.3 million for the United Way and Los Angeles Food Bank during a telethon this week.

So, Rams chief operating officer Kevin Demoff provided fans with a bit of a reward.

He started reading mean tweets about the team’s new logo — which hasn’t gone over too well with fans since it was introduced.

Eagles’ Jeffrey Lurie gives $1M to Penn Medicine Research

Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie has made a $1 million donation to Penn Medicine for the COVID-19 Immunology Defense Fund.

“Every passing day brings new stories of heartbreaking tragedy, inspirational courage, and hopeful innovation,” Lurie said in a statement for Penn Medicine News. “We can and will get through this, but only if we work together, care for each other, and focus our attention and resources towards sustainable strategies.”

The money will go toward addressing critically emerging needs in the pandemic including testing for antibodies in front-line health workers, finding drugs that work against the virus and potential vaccines.

Mike Tomlin’s wife making 500 masks a week for health care workers

Kiya Tomlin, a fashion designer and wife of Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, is sewing 500 masks a week with her staff to send to hospital staff around the country.

“They are for the hospital support staff,” Tomlin told Steelers.com. “They aren't going to the surgeons and nurses. They are for the auxiliary people, and that frees the higher protection masks for doctors and nurses at higher risk dealing with the patients."

Tomlin said at first the masks sought after since they weren’t N95 and didn’t have filters. But personal protection equipment is in such high demand, and the CDC might request people wear them, that Tomlin is getting constant requests.

Joel Embiid donate $1.3 million to make sure healthcare workers get tested

Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid is trying to lead the charge in the fight against coronavirus. Embiid is working to gather funding to launch a campaign that would help get healthcare workers tested for coronavirus antibodies.

Embiid, 26, spoke to ESPN about that decision, explaining why testing for antibodies was the right move.

Embiid said he learned that "testing for COVID-19 antibodies has the chance to let health care workers know if they are immune to the virus."

"If they have immunity, then they can work in risky environments with the peace of mind that they most likely won't get infected again or spread the virus," he added. "In addition, it may be possible for those with a lot of antibodies to donate blood and help other patients that are very ill.

Embiid spoke with doctors at Penn Medicine to gather information on how his donation could help the most.

Bryce Harper donates $500K to food efforts

Philadelphia Phillies superstar Bryce Harper is donating $500,000 to relief efforts in his hometown of Las Vegas and his team’s city of Philly.

The money is going toward three different organizations. Direct Relief is a group with a presence in every state and 80 countries that is trying to provide the medical field with needed personal protection equipment. The other two organizations are for food relief in each of the locations.

Tom Brady partners with Feeding America to raise money

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady is encouraging people to donate to Feeding America. Brady announced a partnership with the program Thursday, and wants to supply 10 million meals to people around the country.

To do so, Brady is asking for your help. He posted a link to Feeding America’s donation page, hoping others would step up and give to a good cause.

JJ Redick providing meals in New Orleans

The New Orleans Pelicans announced on Thursday that JJ Redick and his wife Chelsea are working to provide meals to those in need in New Orleans, which has seen one of the nation’s worst COVID-19 outbreaks.

JJ and Chelsea are working with Lineage Logistics to provide 1.8 million meals to residents of South Louisiana. They’re working in conjunction with national hunger-relief organization Feeding America and local nonprofit Second Harvest Food Bank.

Al Horford donates $500K to coronavirus relief

Philadelphia 76ers forward Al Horford has donated $500,000 to combat the coronavirus pandemic, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reports. The money will go to help causes in Horford’s home country of the Dominican Republic as well as Michigan, Gainesville, Florida, Atlanta, Boston and Philadelphia, places where he has played basketball.

Christian McCaffrey launches initiative to help healthcare workers

Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey is doing what he can to help healthcare workers in Carolina. The 23-year-old launched an initiative Thursday to help “frontline healthcare providers” who are helping those with coronavirus everyday.

McCaffrey’s program, “22 and You,” will raise funds for those people. He’s partnered with Lowe’s and Bose to donate money to the NC Healthcare Foundation and South Carolina Hospital Association Foundation.

Shin-Soo Choo helping out Rangers minor leaguers

Texas Rangers outfielder Shin-Soo Choo is donating $100,000 to support minor-league players during the coronavirus pandemic, according to multiple reports. The 37-year-old veteran reportedly plans to give $1,000 to each of the 190 players in the Rangers farm system.

Marcus Smart and Sean Payton donate plasma

Two of the highest-profile coronavirus patients in the sports world are now trying to help fight the disease.

Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart and New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton both reportedly intend to donate their plasma to combat the spread of coronavirus. Per The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Smart plans to donate his plasma to the National COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma Project. Payton has a similar hopes, according to USA Today’s Jarrett Bell.

Smart in particular has been outspoken about the seriousness of the pandemic.

Packers dining staff supports community, health care workers

The Green Bay Packers dining staff has switched their focus from meals for players, coaches and team personnel to for the community. The crew has so far helped by making:

  • 400 meals per week for students at local school districts

  • 1,000 meals per week for staff at area healthcare facilities

  • 5,000 protein bars and 3,500 protein shakes to local schools for students

  • supplying food pantries and shelters with meals and non-perishable items

The donations are in addition to the $1.5 million community relief fund.

Augusta National donates $2M for testing, emergency fund

Augusta National Golf Club is donating $2 million for coronavirus relief, chairman Fred Ridley said Monday.

"It is our hope these gifts will help address the many challenges brought about by the coronavirus throughout the city of Augusta and the greater region," Ridley said. "We believe Augusta National has an important responsibility to support and protect the community who has so generously and consistently supported us for many years."

The club will give $1 million to Augusta University to help expand testing for COVID-19 and $1 million to the emergency fund to support those in need. The Masters, initially scheduled to begin next week, was postponed.

Steph Curry, Simone Biles among stars donating gear

Sports stars from around the world are donating signed gear to an auction raising money for COVID-19 relief. Stephen Curry, Simone Biles, Rob Gronkowski and Dale Earnhardt Jr. are among the sports figures contributing items to the fund. Anyone who donates $25 is eligible to win.

Texans’ Laremy Tunsil commits $250K for those struggling with bills

Houston Texans tackle Laremy Tunsil has committed up to $250,000 in COVID-19 relief funds, he announced on social media. It includes donations to the Florida Gateway Food Bank in his hometown and the Star of Hope Mission in Houston.

Tunsil said he’ll also help those struggling to pay bills. His team will go over the requests and give on a “need basis” through April 5.

Milwaukee mascot maker produces medical masks

The Milwaukee-based Olympus Group usually makes signs, banners and flags for sports stadiums, trade shows and amusement parks. They also make mascots, such as the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Bucky the Badger and the Racing Sausages at Brewers games. With sports on hold, the company is instead manufacturing 100,000 face shields for local hospitals.

Olympus is producing thousands per day at or below cost and it’s a “great way to keep paying our staff,” CEO Brian Adam told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

"Our culture and our beliefs wouldn't be to profit off something like this," Adam said. "We're trying to cover our time and materials. ... If we can do that ... we'll call that a major win."

MSG will pay workers through April

Madison Square Garden will pay the workers at its venues through May 3, the company told staff per Ian Begley of SNYtv. The New York Knicks and Rangers are some of the final major sports teams to commit to paying hourly workers.

MSG will also establish a relief fund to help employees. The Dolan Family Foundation, Knicks’ owner James Dolan’s group, will contribute $1 million.

Deshaun Watson feeding nurses, doctors fighting coronavirus in Houston

Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson catered both lunch and dinner for nurses and doctors at Ben Taub Hospital near NRG Stadium in Houston on Friday, according to the Houston Chronicle.

Watson brought in 200 lunches from Sticky’s Chicken, per the report, and was planning to bring in another 200 meals for dinner on Friday night.

Clippers’ Steve Ballmer donates more than $25M

Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and his wife, Connie, are donating more than $25 million to relief efforts in Los Angeles, Seattle and Michigan, the Ballmer Group announced.

The University of Washington Medicine’s Emergency Response Fund will receive $10 million. It will go toward speeded up testing for a potential vaccine.

Carlos Correa donates $500k of medical equipment to Houston hospitals

Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa announced on his Instagram on Friday that he’s donating $500,000 of medical equipment to Houston area hospitals to help fight the coronavirus pandemic. The equipment he’s sending includes IV poles, rehab machines, surgical equipment, and much more.

Correa notes that the donation is “temporary,” as the equipment will be sent to poor areas of Central America once it’s no longer needed in Houston.

Anthony Davis joins program to feed L.A. health care workers

Los Angeles Lakers star Anthony Davis announced a campaign on Saturday called “Feed the Front Lines” that plans to tackle two of the biggest needs amid the coronavirus outbreak — supporting health care workers and local businesses.

Davis pledged to match alongside Lineage Logistics up to $250,000 in donations to buy meals from Los Angeles-area restaurants to feed health care workers in local hospitals.

MLB halts jersey production to make masks for hospitals

MLB and Fanatics — the company that makes baseball jerseys — have halted uniform production to make masks and gowns for hospitals. Fanatics’ Michael Rubin announced the news on Twitter on Thursday.

Fanatics plans to make one million masks and gowns to give out around Pennsylvania. The company hopes it can expand mask and gown distribution to New Jersey and New York as well.

Federer family makes pledge to Swiss families

Tennis great Roger Federer and his wife Mirka pledged on Thursday to donate 1 million Swiss Francs to help vulnerable families in his home nation of Switzerland. He touted the donation as “just a start” while encouraging others to join his family in helping out.

Chandler Jones donates 150,000 meals to food banks

Chandler Jones of the Arizona Cardinals is making a big donation to help people struggling with hunger and food shortages due to the coronavirus pandemic. He’s donating more than 150,000 meals to food banks in both Arizona and his hometown of Endicott, NY.

"These are really tough times and it is important for me to do my part and help out both here in Arizona and back at home in New York," Jones said via the Cardinals website. "There are a lot of people in need and everything we can do as a community makes a difference."

Brees family donates $5M

New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees and his wife, Brittany, announced a $5 million donation on March 26 to coronavirus relief in Louisiana.

The couple is partnering with food banks, health systems, eateries and delivery companies to provide 10,000 meals per day for those in need “for as long as it takes.”

Wizards, Capitals to pay employees for April

Monumental Sports & Entertainment, the company that owns the Washington Wizards, Capitals and Mystics, will pay their part-time employees for the five games suspended in April. They had already said they’d pay employees for 15 schedule games and events in March.

Monica Dixon, chief administrative officer and president of external affairs, said, via the Washington Post:

“Our ownership group and leadership team are in total agreement that this is the right thing to do.”

“The entire MSE family is focused on preparing for when we eventually come back,” Dixon said. “We are going to come out of this better and stronger because we have the strength and depth on our team to weather this crisis.”

The payments for games over both months total $1.2 million. Chairman Ted Leonsis told full-time staff to continue preparing for the rest of the NHL and NBA seasons. The WNBA currently plans to begin its season as scheduled in mid-May.

Christian Yelich, Jared Goff among athletes donating 100,000 meals

California Strong — a charity made up of prominent athletes — has announced a donation of 100,000 meals to Feeding America. The group released a video on Twitter on Wednesday, announcing the news. Ryan Braun, Jared Goff, Mike Moustakas and Christian Yelich are among those involved in the charity, as is Mike Attanasio, son of Milwaukee Brewers owner Mark Attanasio.

Bills donate $1.2 million to help Western New York

The Buffalo Bills and owner Kim Pegula have donated $1.2 million to assist Western New York. The team issued a statement Wednesday, saying the money will go toward community aid to help those affected by the coronavirus.

Pegula said she wanted to give “immediate assistance to those in need and those fighting on the front lines.”

NBC to air iconic SNF games starting March 30

You can watch some famous football games on NBC Sports Network starting Monday. NBC announced Wednesday that it would re-air some of the best Sunday Night Football games over the next week and continue the practice on Sunday nights through April.

NBCSN will air two games a night from March 30-April 5 and Monday night’s games will both include Peyton Manning. The first game at 7 p.m. ET will be a 2006 matchup between Eli Manning and the New York Giants and Peyton’s Indianapolis Colts and the second game at 9:30 p.m. will be between the Broncos and New England Patriots from 2013.

The week of games will conclude Sunday evening with the Patriots’ 2018 regular-season win over Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. After the week is over, NBC will air one game on each of the following three Sunday nights.

You can view NBC’s schedule in full here.

Sinclair is advancing sports network freelancers

Sinclair is going to provide cash advances to the nearly 1,000 people who work freelance for the Fox Sports regional networks that it acquired. The move comes after those freelancers were left without work when all North American sports leagues went on hiatus.

The advances are $2,500 and, as you can imagine, will have to be paid back through future game checks by those who take them. So this isn’t totally good news, unfortunately.

Jaguars owner Shad Khan donates $1 million to help Florida

Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan wants to help those affected by the coronavirus. Khan donated $1 million to relief efforts in Florida on Tuesday.

That donation will be spread among multiple organizations. The First Coast Relief Fund will receive $400,000, two food organizations will receive $75,000, Jacksonville schools will get $50,000 and the local American Red Cross will also receive $50,000. Khan said it was his “privilege to help.”

New Orleans aquarium names baby penguin after Zion Williamson

The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans had a new adorable African penguin chick hatch last month, and decided to pay homage to the city’s newest sports star.

The aquarium named the penguin Zion, after New Orleans Pelicans rookie Zion Williamson.

Naturally, it had to share some incredibly cute pictures of the newborn chick to Instagram.

Cristiano Ronaldo donates €1 million to supplies hospitals with equipment

Cristiano Ronaldo and his agent have donated €1 million to make sure three hospitals in Portugal have the equipment needed to deal with the coronavirus.

The donation from Ronaldo, 35, will include “20 beds, ventilators, heart monitors, infusion pumps and syringes,” according to the Independent. Ronaldo is currently in self isolation with his family after his Juventus teammate, Daniele Rugani tested positive for coronavirus.

Joel Embiid pledges $500k for COVID-19 relief, Sixers employees

Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers announced on Tuesday that he is pledging $500,000 toward COVID-19 relief in his community — but he didn’t stop there.

Embiid’s donation to support Sixers employees comes less than a day after it was reported that the Sixers, owned by billionaire private equity investor Josh Harris, would be “temporarily” cutting the salaries of at-will employees making more than $50,000 by 20 percent starting in April. It’s being billed as a cost saving measure for the Sixers during the coronavirus pandemic, despite the fact that Harris is a literal billionaire who can afford to continue to fully pay his staff.

Embiid wants to help the employees of the only organization he’s ever played for, even though the very owner of that organization has a decidedly different plan.

Ben Roethlisberger helps Pittsburgh-area restaurant with gift card purchase

Local, non-chain restaurants all over the country are struggling to stay open and pay staff with the many shelter-in-place orders that are now in effect. Juliano’s Italian Restaurant just outside of Pittsburgh is one of those restaurants, but Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger just gave them some much-needed help. Juliano’s owner Nick Scalise told a local radio station that Roethlisberger bought a “significant” number of gift cards, which will allow him to keep his full staff at the restaurant for the time being.

Scalise said that Roethlisberger wasn’t looking for publicity, and plans to give the gift cards out to people who need them.

Packers establish $1.5M fund

The Green Bay Packers established a Packers Give Back relief fund totaling $1.5 million to assist in Brown County, which will get $1 million, and the Milwaukee area, which will get the rest.

"We are facing an unprecedented challenge in our communities," Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy said in a statement. "We know our nonprofit support agencies will be performing their usual excellent work, but they'll need additional resources as various needs and gaps in coverage develop in the coming weeks and months. The Packers are committed to supporting them now and into the future as we all work together to weather this difficult time.”

The Brown County fund is through the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation and the organization will work with the Packers to best direct the funds. The team already gave $300,000 to the local United Way.

Vikings players donate to emergency funds

The Minnesota Vikings released details about three players’ initiatives to give back to the community during the pandemic.

Receiver Adam Thielen and his wife, Caitlin, have donated $25,000 to Harvest Heartland to help serve nutritious food to young people in the community while they’re away from school. The donation was made through the Thielen Foundation.

Linebacker Anthony Barr is offering emergency $500 grants to current of former scholarship participants of his Raise the Barr foundation, which helps single parents complete postsecondary education. He said on Instagram all grants will be approved and as of Monday had already paid out $17,000 to 30 applicants in the first 24 hours.

Former linebacker Chad Greenway and his wife, Jenni, partnered with The Sheridan Story to provide food to children at more than 30 districts that consists of more than 87,000 students who receive free or reduced lunch. As part of the Lead the Way Foundation, the couple kicked off a Hunger Relief Campaign with an initial $10,000 donation. Each $100 feeds 25 children.

Steelers give $100,000 to United Way

The Pittsburgh Steelers are donating $100,000 to the United Way Emergency Basic Needs Fund that helps families impacted economically by COVID-19. It also helps a formalized arrangement with the Allegheny County Health Department, which is receiving calls about CDC guidelines, health and getting necessities.

“We are grateful for the efforts of all the heroes, volunteers and first responders during this crisis, and we hope this donation will assist the United Way in their efforts,” Steelers President Art Rooney II said in a statement.

Jets and Johnson family donate $1 million to United Way

The New York Jets and the Johnson family donated $1 million to the United Way. That donation will go toward a number of things, including the United Way’s COVID-19 Community Fund.

In a statement, Jets CEO Christopher Johnson said the donation would be used for “helping those disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 and the economic consequences of the outbreak."

The Johnson family has owned the Jets since 2000.

Anthony Rizzo’s foundation delivers food to hospital staff and patients

Chicago Cubs star Anthony Rizzo is making sure hospital staff and patients get some food. The Anthony Rizzo Foundation delivered 150 meals to staff and patients at the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital on Monday.

Rizzo also announced the program would expand to other hospitals in the days to come. He thanked everyone who has donated to help the foundation make a difference.

Chiney Ogwumike honors Kobe Bryant with birthday donations

Los Angeles Sparks forward Chiney Ogwumike spent her 28th birthday indoors, just like most of the nation did Saturday. But unlike others, she spent her evening sifting through direct messages and choosing 28 families to each receive $100 donations in honor of Kobe and Gianna Bryant, whose numbers 2 and 8 combine for 28.

“I know $100 is not a lot, but I don’t have a Kevin Love type of contract so I want to do what I can,” Ogwumike said, via the Los Angeles Times. “I just felt that was the right thing to do instead of spending $2,800 on a Chanel purse, which would be nice. This is what makes my heart feel better during this crazy time.”

Nets’ Kyrie Irving donates to Feeding America

On his 28th birthday, Nets guard Kyrie Irving announced he will donate $323,000 to Feeding America. Irving made the announcement on his Instagram.

The $323,000 amount signifies Irving’s birthday and is an homage to his late friend, Kobe Bryant.

Irving also said he and Feeding America have partnered together to distribute 250,000 meals across the New York City area.

Pirates players send 400 pizzas to feed staff at local hospital

Pittsburgh Pirates players found a brilliant way to support local businesses while helping the doctors, nurses, janitors, and administrative staff who are on the front lines of fighting the coronavirus. A group of players ordered 400 pizzas from two different local pizzerias on Monday and sent them to a local Pittsburgh hospital for lunch.

This wasn’t an idea the Pirates organization came up with. The players hatched this and carried it out all on their own. Pitcher Jameson Taillon spoke on behalf of the players who helped organize the pizza delivery, and he was thrilled that they could help people in their community who may be hurting right now.

Browns owners pledge $1.5 million to COVID-19 relief in Ohio

On behalf of the Haslam family, Cleveland Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam pledged $1.5 million to COVID-19 relief funds in the state of Ohio on Monday. $1 million will go to the Greater Cleveland COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund and $500,000 will go to the Columbus Foundation's Emergency Response Fund. The Cleveland fund is focusing on complementing the work already being done by public health officials, and the Columbus fund is focused on helping those who are experiencing financial difficulties during the pandemic.

Rams to host telethon to raise money for those impacted by virus

The Los Angeles Rams are going to host a virtual telethon Tuesday to benefit the LA Regional Food Bank and the United Way Pandemic Relief Fund.

Rams quarterback Jared Goff announced the telethon on the team’s Twitter page Sunday.

All proceeds from the event — which will be held Tuesday — will go toward those two organizations. The Rams listed more information on their website, including how others can donate to the cause.

Adrian Peterson donates $100,000 to provide meals in Houston

Washington running back Adrian Peterson is helping people in his hometown. Peterson and his wife, Ashley, donated $100,000 to provide meals to students and seniors in Houston.

The Petersons donated to Meals on Wheels America and the Houston Independent School District Foundation. They also asked others to “pay it forward and help those in this critical time of need.”

Christian Pulisic announces donation to Feeding America

United States men’s national soccer team member Christian Pulisic is trying to help those in need. Pulisic, along with Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie, have donated to Feeding America.

Pulisic made that announcement in a video on Twitter.

Perhaps more importantly, Pulisic challenged his USMNT teammates and members of the US women’s team and others to donate to the cause. We’ll see if Pulisic’s video starts a trend.

Zach LaVine donates 12,500 meals to the city of Seattle

Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine knows it’s important to remember where you can from. LaVine, 25, has decided to donate 12,500 meals to the city of Seattle amid the coronavirus pandemic.

LaVine — who grew up in Bothell, which is roughly 20 minutes away from Seattle — announced the news on Twitter.

LaVine is partnering with Feeding America to make the donation. Seattle is among the cities hit hardest by the coronavirus.

Steve Ballmer donates $1 million to fight coronavirus

Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer has donated $1 million to local community groups in California amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Ballmer, 63, plans to distribute that money to a number of organizations. He donated $250,000 to the Los Angeles County Office of Education and to the Los Angeles Unified School District. As part of the donation, Ballmer will gives $100,000 to assist the homeless and $150,000 to an organization that supports low-income workers. Ballmer has not decided what to do with the remaining $250,000.

Ballmer has also pledged to donate $3 million to help those in the Seattle area. Ballmer made his fortune working for Microsoft in Seattle.

CBS to air classic March Madness games

If you’re still reeling over the news that there won’t be a college basketball tournament this year, CBS Sports is helping alleviate the pain. The “NCAA Tournament Rewind” starts Saturday at noon ET. Most of the slate is championship games, but the lone regional final is a doozy: Duke vs. Kentucky in 1992 ... aka when Christian Laettner etched “the shot” into fans’ memories forever.

The 1982 championship showdown between Georgetown and UNC is also slated — hard to turn down classic Michael Jordan.

The nostalgic weekend airings are a great reason to stock up on beer, snacks and feel a little bit of sports comfort.

Luka Doncic, Mark Cuban, Dwight Powell join forces

Mark Cuban and two of his Dallas Mavericks players announced a $500,000 donation from the Mavericks Foundation to benefit “childcare for healthcare workers on the frontlines of the COVID-19 response effort during this unprecedented time.”

The money will help workers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Parkland Hospital.

Falcons’ Arthur Blank leads NFL donations with $5.4M

The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation announced Friday nearly $5.4 million in funding will go toward recovery assistance during the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic.

The funds, spearheaded by Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank, will go toward organizations providing support throughout Georgia, where he also owns MLS club Atlanta United, and Montana, where he owns two ranches.

Meanwhile, Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper announced that he has donated $2.65 million “to help the local community in the face of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic” with proceeds benefiting the regional COVID-19 Response Fund, the Atrium Health Foundation, the Novant Health Foundation and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Foundation.

The Baltimore Ravens and owner Stephen Bisciotti have donated $1 million split between The Fund for Educational Excellence, the United Way of Central Maryland, the Baltimore Community Foundation and the Maryland Food Bank.

Larry Ogunjobi working with Cleveland Food Bank

Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi announced on Friday that he’s partnering with the Cleveland Food Bank to donate 100,000 meals to people in need during the coronavirus pandemic while asking for others to chip in.

“No impact is too big or small, Ogunjobi said. “I encourage you to join me as well as many others as we help those in their time of need.”

Shaq surprises first-graders in online class

It’s been tough for everyone, but certainly for young children who don’t understand why their lives have suddenly halted. They no longer get to see their friends in person and have had to learn, along with teachers and parents, how to adjust to online teaching.

NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal decided to join one first-grade class this week and shocked both teach, parents and students alike with a simple “hello” on the video call. Their reactions were priceless.

Shaquille O'Neal performs on day four of Lollapalooza in Grant Park on Sunday, Aug. 4, 2019, in Chicago. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Shaquille O'Neal ventured into online education. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)

Baby Stephen A. Smith is back

Thank you, filter gods, for always delivering when it comes to Stephen A. Smith. And we’re glad to see Smith embracing the baby filter, because it makes for incredible ESPN content.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic donates to Italy research hospital

AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who announced he was leaving the Los Angeles Galaxy last fall, started a GoFundMe to raise money for the medical professionals in Italy.

Ibrahimovic set a goal of approximately $1.1 million and himself donated more than $100,000. Teammates also donated.

The money will go toward Humanitas to “help strengthen the intensive care emergency unites of Milano, Bergamo, Castellanza and Torino’s hospitals.” The pandemic has hit the county especially hard with more than 35,000 confirmed cases and 3,000 deaths as of Wednesday, per the BBC.

Kyle Kuzma helping seniors in Flint, Michigan

Los Angeles Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma headed home for his contributions amid the coronavirus crisis, partnering with the YMCA in Flint, Michigan to give more than 550 meals a week to seniors impacted by the virus.

The entire program will reportedly run for six weeks.

Jason Heyward donates $200K to coronavirus relief

Chicago Cubs outfielder Jason Heyward joined the giving on Wednesday, donating $200,000 to charities helping soften the impact of the coronavirus outbreak.

$100,000 will reportedly fund supplies and meals for families affected by the virus, while $100,000 will go to the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

Freddie Freeman donates to food bank, Giving Kitchen and Salvation Army

Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman is making multiple donations to help those in the Atlanta area who are dealing with the fallout of the coronavirus. Freeman, 30, gave $50,000 to Atlanta Community Food Bank, $50,000 to Giving Kitchen — an organization that helps service workers — and $25,000 to the Salvation Army.

On Tuesday, Freeman’s division mate, Washington Nationals closer Sean Doolittle, also donated money to a food bank in the D.C. area. Doolittle and his wife, Eireann Dolan, donated $10,000.

League Pass and Game Pass are currently free

The NFL and NBA are doing their duty to help keep people in their in their homes during self-isolation announcing on Wednesday that their digital viewing platforms will be free for at least the next month. NFL Game Pass is free until May 31, and NBA League Pass is free until April 22.

Both platforms offer a mix of recent games, archived games, and additional content. In one day you could relive Super Bowl LII, and follow it with Zion Williamson’s NBA debut. Sign up for Game Pass on the NFL’s website, and League Pass on the NBA’s website.

Luis Rojas surprises devoted Mets fan with call after cancer diagnosis

A New York Mets fan named Ally Henglein took to Twitter to make a request of the Mets: could someone from the team call her grandmother, a longtime fan who was just diagnosed with terminal cancer?

Ally’s grandmother, Kathleen Selig, might be the biggest Mets fan out there. She’s been a fan since the team was founded in the 1960s, has traveled to see them play, talks about them all the time, and always wears Mets gear when she leaves the house. Ally wanted someone from the Mets to contact Kathleen to lift her spirits after the diagnosis, and thankfully the Mets didn’t let her down.

Mets manager Luis Rojas called Kathleen on Wednesday morning, and according to Ally’s tweet, Kathleen was so happy and overwhelmed that she started crying.

Russell Willson, Ciara donating one million meals to Seattle food bank

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson and his wife Ciara are donating one million meals to a local Seattle food bank, Seattle Food LifeLine, to assist in the ongoing coronavirus relief efforts. The couple announced their generous donation in a video on Wilson’s Instagram.

Sean Doolittle, wife begin food bank donation campaign

Washington Nationals pitcher Sean Doolittle and his wife, writer and philanthropist Eireann Dolan, donated $10,000 to help the Capital Area Food Bank, the Washington, D.C. region’s largest hunger relief organization. The donation equates to about 25,000 meals, which the couple has asked fans to match.

Doolittle and Dolan are asking for a total of 50,000 meals to be donated for the more than 400,000 children and families who face hunger in the region.

Lynx, Timberwolves pledge up to $1M for game-day staff

Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx owner Glen Taylor announced a relief fund of up to $1 million for part-time game day employees at Target Center, where the professional basketball teams play.

The teams said in a statement they had been working to bring the plan to fruition this past week and it will provide financial assistance to “hundreds” of employees. The Timberwolves’ season is currently suspended. They had nine home games left on the schedule.

The Lynx’ season-opener is currently scheduled for May 15. The WNBA has said it is monitoring the situation, and will adjust accordingly as the season gets closer.

MLB teams pledge $1M each to ballpark employees

Each of the 30 MLB teams pledged $1 million on Tuesday to ballpark employees who will lose wages by the season being postponed.

"Motivated by desire to help some of the most valuable members of the baseball community, each club has committed $1 million," MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement given to ESPN.

Individual clubs will announce details around their pledges due to the need to coordinate around state and local laws, Manfred said. The Mariners announced their fund shortly before the league did. More than half of the known cases in the United States are in the state of Washington, per the New York Times, with Seattle and King County hit particularly hard.

Mar. 16: Sports arenas donate unused food to charities and shelters

With thousands of pounds of food at risk of going to waste, sports arenas across the country are finding a good use for them, according to Yahoo Sports’ Jeff Eisenberg.

The arenas of the Los Angeles Lakers Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors and more have donated incredible amounts of food, topped by the Atlanta Hawks sending 12,000 pounds to Goodr, an organization that aims to reduce waste and end hunger.

Zion Williamson catches up on reading with brother

The New Orleans Pelicans’ No. 1 pick has been busy with rehab and a rookie of the year campaign. But with the league suspended, he’s spending time with his little brother, Noah, and catching up on reading.

MLB, Stephen Curry donate to emergency food services

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced schools across the nation to close for weeks. Millions of children depend on the free breakfast and lunches they get while at school and districts are scrambling to make sure their students are fed.

Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry and his wife, Ayesha, announced that their foundation will donate to organizations in Oakland getting children meals while school is closed.

Utah Jazz star Donovan Mitchell also donated to the Granite School District in Salt Lake City.

“My mom’s career in education made me value children and the importance of academics, and I want to make sure that kids can continue to eat a meal while they can’t go to school,” he said in a statement.

MLB and the MLB Players Association announced a joint donation of $1 million split evenly between Feeding America and Meals on Wheels America. Funds will be distributed to member food banks in high need around the country to help feed children and families impacted, per the release. Meals on Wheels will also help provide in-home meals to vulnerable senior citizens.

NFL star J.J. Watt and NWSL star Kealia Ohai, who were married earlier this year, donated money for $1 million meals in Houston.

NWSL’s Red Stars design quarantine programming

The NWSL season is scheduled to begin on time in April, though preseason matches were canceled. But while everyone else is at home in quarantine, the Chicago Red Stars communications team has found a way to keep fans — er, their kids? — entertained.

The night time bed story sounds quite comforting in these uncertain times. Head coach Rory Dames already picked out the book.

NBA players, teams start funds for workers

Kevin Love, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Zion Williamson and Blake Griffin are among the many players pledging money toward employees at their respective NBA arenas. Teams have joined in with funds to make sure the hourly workers don’t lose out on income due to the suspension.

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban first pledged to help employees the night the league announced the move and Love put out a call to players the following day.

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