The Houston Texans and the rest of the AFC South are teaming up to help the state of Tennessee with their recovery efforts following tornadoes and severe storms that ravaged the central region in early March.
The Texans announced a joint donation with the Indianapolis Colts and Jacksonville Jaguars of $100,000 to the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.
The Tennessee Titans are directing donations to CFMT to support the affected nonprofits and communities. CFMT will also help provide immediate and long-term services to survivors and others affected.
“The Houston Texans and our city have the residents of Nashville in our thoughts and prayers during this incredibly difficult time,” said Texans chairman and CEO Cal McNair. “We have also come together with our AFC South family, the Indianapolis Colts and the Jacksonville Jaguars, to make a contribution of $100,000 to the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee to help with the ongoing relief and recovery efforts in the Music City.
“So many NFL partners, including Amy Adams Strunk and the Tennessee Titans, answered the call to help in our city’s recovery following Hurricane Harvey and we are grateful to be able to help them and their community in their time of need.”
Colts owner and CEO Jim Irsay says that while the division goes after each other on Sundays in the fall, the NFL is a family and one of their members is hurting.
“We are happy to join with our AFC South partners to lend a helping hand to the people of Tennessee who have lost so much,” Irsay said in a statement.
Shad Khan, the owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars, wanted Titans fans and residents of middle Tennessee to know they have friends throughout the AFC South, even if they may be foes on the gridiron.
“We’re here now and as long as it takes to lend a hand and our hearts to Nashville,” Khan said in a statement.
25 people died from the storm and nearly 20,000 Nashville residents were without power. Taylor Swift also donated $1 million to the relief efforts.