CHARLOTTE -- Panthers head coach Ron Rivera has pledged to donate $50,000 to help with aid for Puerto Rico after the recent devastation by Hurricane Maria. Most of the country is currently without power or running water with large swaths of crops and agriculture destroyed.
Rivera wore a team Puerto Rico hat during practice and during his Thursday afternoon press conference.
"This hat represents Team Puerto Rico, which my daughter played on the Pan American team and the Pan Am games were in Puerto Rico. I just thought it would be fitting. I did make a donation. Ric Elias is raising funds and his goal is to reach $10 million. It's very dire there and tremendous to have the support of the people. Those that don't have generators are really struggling and not getting much water. Food is the other concern, as well as fuel for the generators."
Rivera's father is from the island of Puerto Rico. This summer, Rivera and his father visited his family's homestead where his grandfather and his family farmed.
Rivera tweeted at Ric Elias, the CEO of Red Ventures, that he would join in helping the fund to "Rebuild Puerto Rico." Red Ventures is headquarted in nearby Fort Mill, S.C.
