The NFL announced a grand gesture to the city of Los Angeles.
The Los Angeles Chargers and Rams, along with the Minnesota Vikings, Houston Texans and NFL Foundation, are rallying together to provide $5 million in support to the communities affected by the devastating wildfires in the Los Angeles-area.
The NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell, released a statement announcing the league’s support for the city, along with the financial donation.
“We are heartbroken over the devastating losses experienced by so many in the Los Angeles area and inspired by the heroism of the first responders and residents who have supported their neighbors,” Goodell said.
“The NFL family is committed to working with the Los Angeles Chargers and Los Angeles Rams to support their local communities in their time of need.”
The league already announced that Monday’s Wild Card game between the Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams has been moved from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
Meanwhile, the Chargers have already landed in Houston, where they are set to play the Texans in their Wild Card matchup.
The Rams, nor Vikings, shouldn’t be impacted by the game moving to Glendale, when it comes to their travel plans.
The only thing the Rams are losing is the home-field advantage, which they earned by winning the NFC West.
Albeit in unfortunate times like these, sport is secondary.
More than 10,000 structures have been burned by the two largest fires, the Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades and the Eaton Fire near Pasadena and Altadena.
On Thursday, smoke could be seen from the Rams’ practice facility in Woodland Hills, forcing everyone to be sent home.
LA residents have described the last week as an apocalypse, with thousands losing homes and even loved ones.
As of Friday morning, there have been at least 10 confirmed deaths due to the fires.
AccuWeather, a private firm that provides weather data, estimated the cost of damage to be about $135 billion to $150 billion.
Government officials haven’t given a damage estimate yet, but it is likely to be well over $100 billion.
And rising.
An unimaginable tragedy that has shaken one of the world’s most vibrant cities, to its’ core.
While the $5 million from the NFL seems like a drop of water in a bottomless bucket at the moment, it will still go a long ways in helping those in need.
It’s going to take time and a lot of work to overcome this heartbreaking disaster, but Angelenos are resilient.
Angelenos are tough.
Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Los Angeles will rebuild – and they have the support of the NFL world playing their part.