A native Texan who now makes him home in New Orleans as the quarterback for the Saints, Drew Brees has showed time and time again that he’s a man of Southern values — especially when it comes to helping others and giving back to the community.
Apart from participating in and donating to a handful of organizations throughout his professional career, Brees is the founder of the Brees Dream Foundation, improving the quality of life for cancer patients by provide care, education, and opportunities for children and families in need.
Now amid the coronavirus pandemic, Brees is stepping up to help those affected by covoid-19. On Thursday, he and his wife, Brittany, announced that they will make a major contribution to relief efforts in the Louisiana.
“Brittany and I are committing $5,000,000 to the State of Louisiana in 2020,” the Super Bowl champion wrote on Instagram. “The priority now is helping our communities get through this tough time.”
There have been a total of 2,305 coronavirus cases and 83 deaths in Louisiana, according to CBS affiliate WWL-TV.
With an increasing number of people out of work and schools closed, food sources have become a concern for many.
The Brees’ have chosen several local organizations to partner with — including Second Harvest Food Bank, Ochsner Health Systems, Walk-Ons, Jimmy Johns, Smalls Sliders, and Waitr — in order to provide 10,000 meals each day to children, seniors, and families in need.
Brees’ $5 million effort is one of the largest celebrity contributions to easing the pain of the coronavirus pandemic.
When interviewing the football star about his donation this morning on the Today show, host Hoda Kotb, who has deep roots in Louisiana having worked there for years earlier in her career, was moved to tears by his generosity. Watch here.
