Kevin Durant Donation of $1 Million to Red Cross
Basketball star Kevin Durant said "God told" him to make a $1 million dollar donation to help the efforts being made for victims of the tornado in Oklahoma.
"Just, God told me to do something to help these families out," said the four-time NBA All-Star. "I go through Moore all the time."
Durant, a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder basketball team, has seen the state become his own and vowed for the money to go to the Red Cross through his family organization, Fox Sports reports.
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"It was devastating, man," said Durant, who was not in the state at the time of the disaster. "A natural disaster's something that you can't control, and to have it hit so close to home- I call Oklahoma City my home now- it's tough to go through. But we're a city that comes together, and we'll bounce back from all this."
Monday's tornado tore through the city of Moore, Oklahoma and took the lives of 24 and injured at least 237 with its 200 mph winds.
"Basketball events and sporting events bring everybody together and take your mind off it for a few hours," said the star, who plans to visit victims still hospitalized due to the storm. "Some part of me's wishing I could've played better for my team to stay in the playoffs. It's tough right now, but the sun's gonna shine soon."
"Just to get to the hospital, see some kids,'' Durant continued. "Something. Just something to give some hope. Playing for the Thunder, we mean so much to the state. So many people support us and I just want to go back and support those people.''
Tuesday the Thunder announced they would be matching Durant's $1 million with their own as well as the NBA and the Player's Union, confirms Sports Illustrated.
"Our hearts go out to all those affected by the devastation that has occurred within our community this week,'' Thunder chairman Clay Bennett said in a statement issued by the team. "We are focusing Thunder resources to help where we can in the relief efforts and to support the organizations that are on the ground assisting those affected by this week's storms. Even with so much loss, the strength and resiliency of this community have once again been on display, and we will continue to work together as our community and state recover from this disaster.''
