Sports & Haiti

With all the devastation caused by the earthquake in Haiti on January 12th, we as a country once again, are trying to do our part in helping the people that were affected by the earthquake. We're doing our part by sending food, water, and medicine. We as a country are also helping out by sending money donations to Haiti. Numerous organizations have sent money to Haiti, and have asked for our help also by sending money.
To me, the most influential way organizations have asked for help has been from the American Red Cross and ESPN. The American Red Cross and ESPN are working together to get support from people by asking for a $10 donation when you text HAITI to 90999. This earthquake has affected athletes in the United States as well. Philadelphia 76ers center Samuel Dalembert, a native of Haiti has been flying to Haiti to help as much as he can with relief efforts and to personally let the people know what's going on when it comes to what organizations and charities are doing for them. On January 15th, Dalembert donated a check for $100,000 to UNICEF president Caryl Stern.
I use Dalembert for more than the reason that he's from Haiti, but because he plays in the NBA. The NBA in recent years has been labeled as a league full of thugs, that all they care about is money and themselves. With the efforts of Dalembert this makes the previous statement makes me wonder what do people really know about athletes. Carlos Boozer, a member of the Utah Jazz had this to say about the NBA... "People have a perception of the NBA as a bunch of thugs or whatever," Boozer says. "That's not true. We have guys that have big hearts that want to help out in times of need, that are good guys. Not all of us have friends from Haiti, not all of us are Haitian like Samuel Dalembert. We saw a group of people, a country in need."
Boozer's quote makes me feel good to be an athlete. Being an athlete also means dealing with being more responsible and professional because young boys and girls look up to athletes just as much as any other profession. This is the main point why I feel that ESPN and the Red Cross working together has been the best and most influential organization so far during the relief process in Haiti.