J.J. Watt’s terrific hurricane relief endeavours that he’s set up is a great initiative in helping out the city that’s given him so much in his six full years in Houston has caused a chain effect in the sports world.
Through social media, Watt has generated over $18 million in donation money that’ll help the 45,000 people stuck in shelters from the effects from Hurricane Harvey.
As the days go by, athletes are using their distinctive platform of followers to spread the word and chip in what they can.
Washington Capitals owner Alexander Ovechkin and team owner Ted Leonsis are some of the latest to have pledged. Ovechkin has reportedly donated an undisclosed amount of money to the cause.
The Capitals captain was inspired by Washington Wizards’ John Wall and Bradley Beal, who challenged their Wizards teammates to step up and donate.
Wall, Beal and the Wizards compiled $250,000 to aid the relief efforts. Leonsis is the majority owner of the Wizards, and is the CEO, chairman and founder of Monumental Sports & Entertainment; the company owns the Wizards, Capitals and the WNBA franchise, the Washington Mystics.
Ovechkin has shown his kind heart in the past, donating hockey gear to orphanages in Moscow, and gave the car he won at the 2015 NHL All-Star Game to a girl’s hockey program in Virginia after lobbying to be the last pick in the draft.
