Charlotte - The David Tepper Charitable Foundation, Inc. and Carolina Panthers Charities today announced an initial package to aid Hurricane Florence disaster relief efforts in North and South Carolina, which will be directed as follows:
-$1 million to the American Red Cross, primarily directed to help fund its financial assistance program in the Carolinas that provides people in shelters with stipends and gift cards to help them transition back to their lives
-$450,000 to regional food banks by providing 25,000 emergency food packs
-Aid to high school athletic programs impacted by storm damage
"The David Tepper Charitable Foundation and Carolina Panthers Charities are working with frontline partners across the Carolinas to provide aid and critical resources to help communities begin recovering in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence," said Panthers Owner David Tepper. "This will be an on-going process and we are continuing to evaluate the regions' needs with the goal of assisting impacted communities return to normalcy as quickly as possible."
Additionally, the Carolina Panthers staff and players will engage in direct service projects for impacted areas. Panthers fans will have the opportunity to support Hurricane Florence relief efforts by making cash donations at collection points at Bank of America Stadium during Sunday's home game. Proceeds will benefit the Greater Carolinas Chapter of the American Red Cross.
The #CAREolina t-shirts are available for purchase at careolinas.com and will be available at the Panthers team store and stadium merchandise locations. All proceeds will benefit the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund and One SC Fund.
Fans can also donate directly to the following agencies: The United Way, Foundation For The Carolinas Disaster Relief Fund, Feeding America and the American Red Cross by visiting Panthers.com. Additional information on ways to support these agencies will be provided in stadium on Sunday.
The team is also spearheading and coordinating an effort with college football programs in North and South Carolina to unveil a special "One Carolina" helmet sticker to be worn during games on Saturday. Panthers players will wear the sticker during Sunday's home game against Cincinnati.
