Katrina relief: Baseball taking donations
CINCINNATI -- In the wake of the death and destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina, Raquel Aurilia, wife of Cincinnati Reds second baseman Rich Aurilia, decided to go beyond simply donating funds for hurricane relief.
On Saturday, a copy of Raquel's CD single, "The Need," will be given to the first 300 people at Great American Ball Park who donate $5 or more to survivors of the natural disaster that has left people in Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi either dead or homeless.
"We wanted to help in some way, to not only seek help from others, but to give people a little something in return," she said. "Music is so therapeutic, and by sharing the song 'The Need' with others, maybe it will leave them with a sense of hope when there are so many devastating things going on in the world today."
• Former Secretary of State Colin Powell was a surprise visitor to Hurricane Katrina survivors today at Reunion Arena in Dallas.
More than 7,000 evacuees are sheltered at Reunion.
Dallas Mavericks coach and New Orleans native Avery Johnson was also expected to visit with hurricane and flood victims at Reunion.
Katrina survivors at the Houston Astrodome got a visit Monday from Oprah Winfrey.
• The Alex Spanos family and the San Diego Chargers will match the first $150,000 contributed by fans to the American Red Cross at Sunday's game.
The American Red Cross will be collecting donations throughout the Chargers' home opener against the Dallas Cowboys and all proceeds will go directly to rebuild communities and save lives in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
"It's hard to comprehend the enormity of this disaster," said team president Dean Spanos. "There are hundreds of thousands of people homeless. This is a time to make a difference and help people get back on their feet."
• Brett Favre is raising money through his foundation to help the hurricane victims -- more than $142,000 as of Wednesday.
"There's not a final tally yet of how many people are dead," Favre said. "I'm sure that's going to go way up. There are probably numerous, numerous people that will never be found. But for the people who made it, including my family, there's a lot to be thankful form because when this is all said and done, a lot of people are going to be very fortunate that they're alive because this was a bad one. It's going to take some time. My mom, I don't think she'll ever recover from it."
• LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Kevin Garnett and other NBA stars will play in a game Sunday in Houston to benefit Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.
TNT basketball analyst Kenny Smith organized the game at the Toyota Center. It will start at 5 p.m. EDT and will air on TNT at 11 p.m. EDT.
Organizers said Wednesday that participating players will donate money and supplies valued at more than $1 million to aid Katrina victims. Players are scheduled to hand out truckloads of supplies to shelters across the city before the game.
Other players set to play include: Steve Francis, Sam Cassell, Jermaine O'Neal, Ron Artest, Stephon Marbury, Chauncey Billups, Paul Pierce, Lindsey Hunter, Alonzo Mourning, Charles Oakley, Antonio McDyess, Amare Stoudemire and Derrick Coleman.
• Major League Baseball will match the total fan contributions up to $1 million from "pass the hat" programs at games Wednesday.
Major League Baseball, which joined the players' association with a $1 million donation last week, is expected to raise more than $3 million. Players had American Red Cross decals on their batting helmets and a phone number for donations appeared on the sides of the bases.
• A flood victim threw out the ceremonial first pitch Wednesday night at RFK Stadium before the Florida Marlins played the Washington Nationals.
Benjamin Camp, who lived in New Orleans, is one of about 250 evacuees staying at the adjacent D.C. Armory. The 20-year-old Camp was accompanied on the field by his father and brother-in-law. Other members of their family, including Camp's 2-year-old child, were evacuated to Houston.
• The PGA Tour's Southern Farm Bureau Classic in Madison, Miss., has been moved to the first weekend in November.
Tournament executive director Robert Morgan said the $3 million event, originally scheduled for Oct. 6-9 at Annandale Golf Club, will be played Nov. 3-6, opposite the Tour Championship in Atlanta. Morgan said all net proceeds from the tournament will be donated to relief efforts in Mississippi.
• The NHL and its players' association will donate $1 million to the American Red Cross, and also will raise money through an auction of opening-night jerseys.
• Miami Dolphins coach Nick Saban's wife will lead a collection campaign outside the stadium before the season-opening game Sunday against Denver. Saban coached at Louisiana State for five years before joining the Dolphins in December.