Tag: community outreach

Texans DE J.J. Watt cancels 2020 celebrity softball game; fans don’t ask for refunds

J.J. Watt had to cancel his celebrity softball game for the second time in three years, but fans who bought tickets did not ask for refunds.

It has become a May tradition as welcomed as Houston Texans organized team activities, J.J. Watt’s celebrity softball game. However, for the second time in three years, Watt has had to cancel the event.

Fans who already bought tickets to the annual fundraiser for the J.J. Watt Foundation told the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year to keep the money.

“Truly grateful to have such kindhearted and generous supporters,” Watt tweeted on April 15. “The city of Houston and beyond have been so great to us and we’ve been able to help so many kids around the country because of it. Seeing such generosity gives me great hope for our future.”

Just be on the safe side, the foundation is still refunding the money to patrons who bought tickets. If the patrons would rather let the foundation have that same dollar amount committed to tickets, they are welcome to re-donate the money.

Watt has spoken before of how fortunate he is to have teammates who make a big deal out of the home run derby and softball game. The 2017 Walter Payton Man of the Year has teammates in the stands, his fans, who still make the event impactful, even in a year where the COVID-19 pandemic nixed it.

Texans S Justin Reid donates time, money to Kids Meals Houston

Houston Texans safety Justin Reid took time out of his offseason to give back to Kids Meals Houston.

Houston Texans safety Justin Reid has grown into a leader of the secondary after completing just his second professional season.

The former Stanford Cardinal is also emerging as a leader in the greater Houston area. On Friday, the former 2018 third-round pick spent his day at Kids Meals Houston filling up snack bags and passing out food along with donating $6,500 to the cause.

“You can donate financially,” Reid said. “You can donate your time. You can donate your energy just coming by packing meals or driving the truck to help them deliver meals all through the city of Houston — whatever way you see fit to your situation.”

Reid on the Texans’ Ed Block Courage Award in 2019 as a recognition of his efforts both on and off the field, along with his ability to overcome great adversity.

“Philanthropy is a big part of us just sticking together, playing on the same team, and making sure we have everybody come out of this pandemic as safely as possible,” said Reid.

McNair, Texans donate $100K to Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCA of Greater Houston

The Houston Texans and the McNair Family have donated a total of $100,000 to the Boys and Girls Clubs and YMCA of Greater Houston.

The Houston Texans and the McNair Family have donated $100,000 to “two great Texans partners” in the greater Houston area to aid youth during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to a statement from Texans chairman and CEO Cal McNair, the Texans have donated $50,000 to the YMCA of Greater Houston and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Houston.

“These funds will help these two great Texans partners provide critical services during this difficult time, including food distribution, emergency aid, childcare and virtual programming tools for members and their families,” McNair said in a statement released Wednesday.

“Our mission is to be Champions for Youth and through these community partners, we are able to offer assistance to kids and their families during this time of great need across the greater Houston region,” said McNair.

YMCA of Greater Houston president and CEO Steve Ives says they couldn’t provide such support with the help of others, and they are appreciative of their partnership with the Texans.

“We are grateful for our continued partnership with the Houston Texans,” Ives said via Deepi Sidhu of HoustonTexans.com. “Their support enables us to address critical needs and support our community in powerful, life-changing ways. It is imperative that we are able to provide essential services and we can not do this without the support of others.”

Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Houston president and CEO Kevin Hattery stated the donation was arriving at a “critical time” for the organization and the families served.

Said Hattery: “This contribution will ensure we can continue to provide direct services to kids who are most vulnerable. The Houston Texans have supported us in many challenging situations and we are proud of the good work we’ve been able to accomplish together.

“We are grateful to have the Houston Texans as a partner in doing whatever it takes to build great futures for kids in our community.”

The donation from the Texans comes after coach Bill O’Brien and his wife, Colleen, announced a $100,000 donation to the Houston Food Bank on March 31.

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Texans coach Bill O’Brien and wife Colleen donate $100K to Houston Food Bank

Houston Texans coach Bill O’Brien and his wife Colleen donated $100,000 to the Houston Food Bank to help with COVID-19 efforts.

Houston Texans coach Bill O’Brien made one move in March that everyone could praise.

According to the Houston Chronicle’s Aaron Wilson, the seventh-year coach and his wife, Colleen, donated $100,000 to the Houston Food Bank to help with the pantry’s efforts in providing food during the COVID-19 pandemic.

On March 20, the Houston Food Bank received a $250,000 donation as part of a $500,000 gift the McNair family had given to the food bank and also Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston.

To combat the effects of COVID-19 in the community, Texans players have also been giving money or purchasing meals for first responders.

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Texans LT Laremy Tunsil seeks to pay bills, rent of folks struggling to make ends meet

Houston Texans left tackle Laremy Tunsil seeks to pay the bills, rent, and car notes of people struggling to make ends meet.

Houston Texans left tackle Laremy Tunsil earned a Pro Bowl protecting quarterback Deshaun Watson’s blindside in 2019.

Now, Tunsil seeks to have everybody’s back.

The former Miami Dolphins 2016 first-round pick posted a video to his Twitter account Monday inviting people struggling to make ends meet from the COVID-19 pandemic’s economic fallout to send him their consequential bills.

“I want to help in critical times like this,” Tunsil said. “So, if you have any necessities such as light bill, water bill, your car note, your rent, et cetera, what I’m going to have you guys do is send a picture of that to this email, laremycares@gmail.com.

“My team will go through the emails and help in any way that we can. A huge thank you to the workers out there who are putting their life on the line daily for us. Thank you. Peace, love, prosperity, and go Texans.”

Though not mentioned in the video, Tunsil’s tweet also stated he will be donating $250,000 to COVID-19 relief, including donations to the Florida Gateway Food Bank in his hometown of Lake City, Fla., in addition to funds appropriated towards Star of Hope Mission in Houston.

Individuals who believe Tunsil can help them are asked to send a picture of the bill to laremycares@gmail.com.

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Texans’ Deshaun Watson provides meals for Gainesville, Ga. first responders

Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson provided meals for first responders in his hometown of Gainesville, Georgia.

Deshuan Watson scores again, and the crowd goes wild.

The Houston Texans’ two-time Pro Bowl quarterback provided the funds to purchase meals for first responders, including the emergency room staff at Northeast Georgia Medical Center, in his hometown of Gainesville, Georgia, on Tuesday.

According to Nathan Berg of the Gainesville Times, Free Chapel pastor Michael Thurmond received a call from Watson earlier in the week about how he could help his hometown.

“We just kind of put our heads together and decided we need to help the people who are on the front lines, who are out there who don’t get to go home for lunch,” Thurmond said. “The nurses, the doctors, policemen and firemen. Those guys.”

Watson then partnered with Longstreet Cafe owner Tim Bunch to provide lunches for first responders and emergency room staff through Friday.

“That’s just who Deshaun is,” Bunch said. “He is a lot better person than he is a football player.”

Watson set Georgia high school football records while under center for the Gainesville Red Elephants, including 13,077 career passing yards and 155 career passing touchdowns. The former Clemson Tiger continues to give back to his community beyond just the measure of his high school stats.

“He has never really forgotten his roots, and he’s never forgotten those people who have helped him get to where he is today,” Gainesville Police spokesperson Sgt. Kevin Holbrook said. “We do greatly appreciate that. It really means a lot to us.”

Though COVID-19 may have impacted normal life and has cast a super cell of anxiety over the healthcare system and the populace as a whole, the challenge isn’t too big for Watson to help out.

“It’s a blessing all the way around, and hopefully it inspires other athletes, leaders, businesspeople to follow suit,” said Thurmond. “We can’t do everything, but we can all do something.”

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Report: Texans DE J.J. Watt, Chicago Red Stars’ Kealia Ohai donate $350,000 to Houston Food Bank

Houston Texans DE J.J. Watt and the Chicago Red Stars’ Kealia Ohai donated $350,000 to the Houston Food Bank, which will provide over a million meals.

When the Houston Texans needed to beef up their edge defense for the playoffs, defensive end J.J. Watt was there.

When the greater Houston area needed a response to address potential food shortages due to the COVID-19 outbreak, Watt and wife Kealia Ohai teamed up to donate $350,000 to the Houston Food Bank.

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and his National Women’s Soccer League star spouse donated enough funds that the Houston Food Bank will be able to provide over one million meals.

For Watt, giving back to the city of Houston is part of his legacy. The former 2011 first-round pick from Wisconsin won the 2017 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award for raising over $37 million to help with Hurricane Harvey relief efforts in August of 2017.

Now, Watt’s giving is partnered with Ohai, who used to play for the Houston Dash before being traded to the Chicago Stars.

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Chris Paul dedicates basketball court at Family T.R.E.E.

Paul dedicated a refurbished basketball court at Family T.R.E.E. complete with a new floor design, fresh paint, and an upgraded backboard.

Family First. Family Last. Family Always.

That’s the message written on the wall of the newly refurbished basketball court at Family T.R.E.E., that was dedicated by the Chris Paul Family Foundation, along with State Farm and Spaulding.

According to Thunder digital reporter Paris Lawson, Family T.R.E.E. “serves as a resource and a space for families and children within the Child Welfare System to spend time with each other and reunify their family.”

It’s why it meant so much for Paul to design the court’s facelift alongside his 10-year-old son.

“It was very important. I always say I’m lucky to have an unbelievable support team around me,” said the Thunder point guard. “It was a heck of a coincidence because we designed the ball and then came Family T.R.E.E. so it was very fitting.”

As noted by Lawson, the court at Family T.R.E.E. got a floor pattern, fresh paint, and an upgraded backboard.

But the look of the court isn’t as important as what it provides – a safe space. And Deb Shropshire, Director of Child Welfare for the State of Oklahoma Department of Human Services told Lawson that’s what has the greatest impact.

“The children served in this place are in foster care which means they aren’t getting the chance to be around family every day and so to provide spaces where those kids can play, they can forget about their troubles but also enjoy time with their family is really, really important to us and there’s no question that the court renovation and the beauty of the space and that basketball court will allow us to see kids enjoy great days.”

The kids that get to enjoy the new court are now part of Paul’s family. Always.