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Kevin Durant Donates $1 Million to Red Cross for OKC Tornado Relief
May 21, 2013
Kevin Durant is truly an outstanding human being.
The tornado that ripped through the streets, homes and lives of Oklahoma City was devastating. Merely the thought of lives being lost and families being displaced is enough to send a piercing chill down the back of your spine.
Amid all the tragedy, though, beacons of hope can be found in the selfless displays of generosity. A disaster like this is horrifying, but it resonates with the general public and brings out the benevolence in all of us.
This uptick of philanthropy is now being piloted by Durant himself. According to CBS Sports' Royce Young, the Oklahoma City Thunder superstar has donated $1 million to the Red Cross' Tornado Relief fund.
NBA wunderkind or not, $1 million is a lot of cash. Durant earned approximately $17.5 million playing for the Thunder this past season (not including endorsements and the like), so his donation accounts for more than five percent of his principle salary.
UPDATE: Wednesday, May 22 at 10:20 p.m. ET, By Jesse Dorsey:
Durant visited the impacted areas in and around Moore, OK on Wednesday to take a look at just how much the area was damaged.
--End of Update--
UPDATE: Tuesday, May 21 at 2:25 p.m. ET, By Ethan Norof:
The Oklahoma City Thunder have matched Durant's donation and have also pledged $1 million to the Red Cross "to aid with disaster relief," according to Young.
The Thunder has confirmed the donation on Twitter.
--End of Update--
Few people are prepared to devote five percent of their income to charity. Some just aren't in a position to do so. But Durant is, and so he did.
His contribution, however, is hardly surprising.
Most would have been shocked if he didn't pledge a lump sum to the cause, because this is so Durant.
The unsuccessful attempt at anonymity is also vintage Durant.
He didn't publicize his donation or release a statement. He just opened his wallet to the city he represents and the family he loves in hopes of making a difference.
Durant could have stopped at tweeting his support. Urging others to dole out their hard-earned money could have been considered enough.
For Durant, it wasn't. He put his money where his Twitter handle was. He implored everyone to pitch in $10 and then ponied up $1 million of his own.
This is why we love Durant, why we adore him. He's there when it counts—even when he's not on the court.