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By Josh Davis
These are not normal times we are living in at the moment. The COVID-19 pandemic has our people searching for something they can hold onto. When other tragedies have struck, sports was one of those things. But today, almost every athletic event across the world has suffered some kind of stoppage. Even the NFL.
Free Agency has been affected, doctors have ended local physicals until the crisis is over, which will cause some official FA signings to be delayed, or not happen at all. But the top-level signings should go on with no issues. For an up-to-date list of transactions since Free Agency began, click here to see our PSN OffSeason Tracker.
With these transactions, come reports of money. Millions being made by signing on the dotted line. Some fans, with nothing else to grab their attention, wonder what these guys who get paid a high dollar to play a kid’s game, are doing for their communities while we are on virtual lockdown.
Here at PigSkinNut, we take these things very seriously. Continuing our ongoing coverage of the COVID-19 virus, and its effect on football, here is what your favorite teams in the NFCare doing to help their communities fight this pandemic, we have the answer:
NFC North
Chicago Bears:
The Chicago Bears partnered with the Advocate Children’s Hospital in Chicago to show gratitude to everyone who risks their lives to ensure the safety and health of the Windy City.
The Bears organization donated $250K to the COVID-19 response fund.
Green Bay Packers:
The Packers decided to cancel their “Tailgate Tour” during the COVID-19 crisis. The organization will commit to donating $25K to local chapters of Habitat for Humanity, Special Olympics Wisconsin, and Stars and Stripes Honor Flight.
The Packers are also starting a COVID-19 Community Relief Funds totaling $1.5 million, through Packers Give Back, with $1 million going directly to Brown County, and another $500,000 to help Milwaukee-area initiatives.
Minnesota Vikings:
The Minnesota Vikings announced the organization will be donating $250,000 to its local community in its fight against the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Team owner Zygi Wilf and his family will match that donation through the Wilf Family Foundation for a total of $500,000.
NFC East
Dallas Cowboys:
Cowboys C Travis Frederick and other teammates and coaches are matching $40K in donations to help in the time of need.
Cowboys newly re-signed TE Blake Jarwin donated a portion of his signing bonus to his old college Oklahoma State University to help workers who have been impacted by the cancellation of spring sports.
DE DeMarcus Lawrence is donating meals to First Responders, as well.
Philadelphia Eagles:
Eagles TE Zach Ertz and his wife, Julie, donated $100K to the Philabundance Food Bank through the Ertz Family Foundation. The donation will provide over 100,000 meals for families.
C Jason Kelce, and DE Connor Barwin and his wife Laura are also donating $25,000 to the Ertz Family Foundation.
New York Giants:
The NY Giants organization has committed to funding a 10-week emergency childcare program at the Meadowlands YMCA so that the emergency responders can have peace of mind at no expense during this crisis.
Washington Redskins:
Adrian & Ashley Peterson Family Foundation is donating $100,000 to aid and support senior citizens and students who have been impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak in Houston, Texas.
Also, the Redskins will be donating their stadium parking lot at FedEx Field to the National Guard as a future coronavirus testing site for Prince George’s County, Md.
NFC South
Atlanta Falcons:
The Arthur M. Blank foundation will donate $5.4M towards the immediate and long-term COVID-19 recovery assistance to organizations in Georgia and Montana. The donation breakdown can be found at our link at the bottom of the page.
Falcons QB Matt Ryan and his wife Sarah donated $100,000 Tuesday to help the Giving Kitchen and Atlanta Food Bank.
Carolina Panthers:
Panthers owner David Tepper is donating $2.65M in total response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
NFC West
San Francisco 49ers:
Team President Al Guido released a statement stating that the 49ers organization will be committing $500K to support both the workforce and the most vulnerable populations in the community. An additional $49K will be given to feed the children and seniors in the Santa Clara and San Mateo counties during this crisis.
Los Angeles Rams:
Rams QB Jared Goff and OT Andrew Whitworth committed to donating a combined $500K to organizations like the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank and United Way’s Pandemic Relief Fund.
Seattle Seahawks:
The Seahawks and the CenturyLink Field organization will donate more than $700K to pay part-time employees who were going to lose wages due to canceled events. The Seahawks are also making an unspecified contribution to the Seattle Foundation’s COVID-19 Response Fund.
The organization supported a blood drive with Bloodworks Northwest to raise awareness for the need for additional blood donors.
Seahawks QB Russell Wilson, and his wife Ciara, have donated 1M meals to the local Seattle communities via Food Lifeline.
Cliff Avril and The Cliff Avril Family Foundation donated over $50,000 Friday to four different local community-based organizations providing resources to people impacted by COVID-19.
It’s good to know that those with the means to help on a broad scale are doing so. And we believe it’s important to let the fans know what their teams and players are doing. We just think far too often, these positive stories get overlooked for the negative, and the mundane.
No one knows how long this will last, and so it is important to remember we are all affected in some way by this virus. Please listen to the guidelines given to your community by your local leaders, and CDC.gov
Part 2, covering how the AFC is responding, will be out next. And as more updates come in, make sure to stay updated with PigSkinNut.com’s series on the COVID-19 crisis, including how it affects the NFL and the communities.
Release ID: 88950872