The Panthers and the NFL are encouraging fans to help in any way possible to provide aid and support to assist victims of the earthquake in Haiti. To help those in Haiti, fans can use the Red Cross text-to-give line by texting "HAITI" to "90999" or visiting**www.redcross.org**.
The NFL and the NFL Players Association have already pledged $2.5 million to aid in relief and recovery efforts in Haiti. The NFL and NFLPA will contribute $1 million through their Disaster Relief Fund to the American Red Cross and Partners In Health ($500,000 each). In addition, the NFL and its network partners will run pregame and in-game messages during this weekend's games valued at $1.5 million to promote donations. NFL owners and players are also making their own personal donations.
The NFL is working with its teams, players and media partners to raise money and promote awareness of the recovery efforts. A national public service announcement will air during each playoff game this weekend driving viewers to www.redcross.org, where they can support the recovery efforts. The PSA will feature New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma and San Diego Chargers defensive end Jacques Cesaire, two players with Haitian-born parents.
There will be pregame and in-game messages on both CBS and FOX promoting the Red Cross' text-to-give line (text "HAITI" to "90999"). NFL Network programming, ESPN's Sunday NFL Countdown and NFL radio broadcasts also will promote the text-to-give line. NFL.com will have banner ads driving users to the Red Cross to donate funds. There will be in-stadium video board and PA messages in both stadiums hosting games this weekend promoting the Red Cross' text-to-give program.
Other NFL players with Haitian ties include Stanley Arnoux (New Orleans), Cliff Avril (Detroit), Gosder Cherilus (Detroit), Antonio Cromartie (San Diego), Louis Delmas (Detroit), Elvis Dumervil (Denver), Pierre Garcon (Indianapolis), Rashad Jeanty (Cincinnati), Ricky-Jean Francois (San Francisco), Max Jean-Gilles (Philadelphia), David Joseph (Tampa Bay), William Joseph (Oakland), Steve Octavien (Dallas), Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (Arizona) and former players D'Antonio Batiste, Vernand Morency and Jonal Saint-Dic.
Created in 2001 to assist organizations directly and indirectly affected by the events of September 11, the NFL-NFLPA Disaster Relief Fund is a collaborative endeavor of the National Football League and the NFLPA. Its goal is to improve the quality of life and help rebuild communities affected by large-scale tragedies. Since its inception, the NFL-NFLPA Disaster Relief Fund has provided aid to those affected by the events of September 11, tsunami in Southeast Asia in 2004, Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and San Diego wildfires in 2007.
