Players, Franchise Team Up
for Tsunami Relief Donation
Indiana Pacers team members scored with a $28,700 donation and the Pacers Sports & Entertainment front office provided a $28,700 matching assist Wednesday to the U.S. Fund of UNICEF for Tsunami Relief.
Following the Pacers’ practice at Conseco Fieldhouse, team members presented the $57,400 check to former UNICEF volunteers and regular donors Carolyn and Garnett Day in an informal press conference.
“This is a devastating blow to Southeast Asia in terms of loss of life, destruction, potential health hazards and many other things,” said Pacers’ center Scot Pollard. “This hits close to home personally and anything anyone can do carries great significance. This is of such a magnitude that words and pictures can’t fully deliver the whole story.”
The mother of Scot’s wife, Mindy, is a native of Thailand.
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“Our players got together and decided on their own to do something to help provide some relief for this horrible disaster,” said PS&E CEO and President Donnie Walsh. “We are more than happy to match their donation and we are going to continue as an organization to do more things for this cause.”
The Pacers, who start a four-game road trip Thursday in San Antonio, will return home to Conseco Fieldhouse, Friday, Jan. 14, when they host Phoenix. They are asking all fans who attend to donate to the U.S. Fund of UNICEF for Tsunami Relief. Bins will be set up near the entry points for fans to make cash donations.
The Pacers are also offering their sponsors the opportunity to participate in a “point pledge” program for the Phoenix game in which there will be a monetary pledge for each Pacers’ point scored during that game.
Jermaine O’Neal, the Pacers’ All-Star forward, will donate $1,000 through his representation at SFX Sports Agency for every point he scores in Thursday night’s game at San Antonio.
