Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid is a larger than life character that has won over the hearts of everyone in Philadelphia. On Tuesday, the All-Star center proved why he is so loved in the city with an incredible donation to help team employees and the city’s relief efforts against COVID-19.
Embiid will be donating $500,000 towards medical help and relief efforts in the local community during the COVID-19 epidemic, per ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne. He also will be donating some of the money to help team employees who are struggling financially without work due to the NBA’s suspended season.
During a time when many across the country are struggling, many professional athletes and organizations are stepping up to help their communities. On Tuesday, the Arizona Cardinals pledged $1 million to help fund the state’s COVID-19 relief fund.
Cleveland Browns’ owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam pledged $1.5 million towards Ohio’s COVID-19 relief efforts on Monday. They joined Carolina Panthers owner David A. Tepper, who donated $2.65 million, and Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blunk, donating $5.4 million, in a wave of incredible gestures by the NFL community.
Washington Redskins running back Adrian Peterson also donated $100,000 to help combat COVID-19 and Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield donated $50,000 to local food banks in Cleveland.
In MLB, several Pittsburgh Pirates players made an incredible gesture to help both local businesses and the area hospital. Atlanta Braves star Freddie Freeman donated $100,00 to Atlanta-based charities and Chicago Cubs outfielder Jason Heyward pledged $200,000 to Chicago-based relief efforts.
According to the latest information from Johns Hopkins University, more than 46,000 people in the United States have tested positive for COVID-19 as of Tuesday morning.