This is good to see: former New Orleans Saints and Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Manti Te’o is working to bring relief to his home state in the wake of deadly wildfires that devastated the island of Maui. Born and raised on the nearby island Oahu, Te’o shared an emotional response to the natural disaster while encouraging fans to support relief efforts.
“I was fortunate to grow up experiencing the incredible bond of a community and the hospitality we, as Hawaiians, proudly share with the rest of the world,” Te’o said in a statement through the Chargers team website. “It’s been extremely heartening to see people from all walks of life rally around my people and return that love and support. In life there are things that we simply cannot control, but what we can control is how we respond. This weekend is an opportunity for our Chargers ‘ohana to respond; to come together and assist Maui in its time of need.”
Initially picked by the Chargers in the second round of the 2013 NFL draft, Te’o played a critical role for the Saints as a backup in the 2017, 2018, and 2019 seasons, though he finished his career with the Chicago Bears in 2020. He’s since retired, started a family, and enjoyed a warm welcome at his Notre Dame alma mater.
The Chargers say they plan to donate $50,000 as well as their portion of 50/50 raffle ticket sales from Sunday’s preseason game towards Maui wildfire relief efforts through their Chargers Impact Fund; proceeds from the 50/50 raffle will go towards the American Red Cross. Fans can purchase raffle tickets when gates open at SoFi Stadium on Sunday until the end of the third quarter, with the winner and final total announced in the fourth quarter.
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