NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — DraftKings announced a donation of nearly $180,000 to the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee’s Nashville Neighbors Fund which will help those impacted by the Christmas Day bombing.
Click here to donate to the fund.
A total of $179,579 will benefit the many Nashvillians and business owners who are still struggling to recover from the bombing. DraftKings ran a series of free fantasy sports contests to benefit the Fund, and pledged a $1 donation to the Fund for each participant in the contests.
The first was held for the December 27, Tennessee Titans vs. Green Bay Packers game, attracting 84,692 entrees. Just after the new year, on January 3, another contest was held for the game between the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers, which attracted 94,887 participants and brought the total from both contests to 179,579.
“DraftKings stands with Nashville and the surrounding communities during this difficult time. Nashville is strong, resilient, and will come together to rebuild. We are proud to support The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee during this time of need,” Matt Kalish, DraftKings co-founder and President, North America said in a press release.
“I want to thank all of our customers nationwide for showing their support for Nashville,” Kalish continued. "We’re proud to make this donation on their behalf in support of bringing healing to the Music City.”
The Metro Office of Emergency Management has estimated the explosion has affected 1,200 employees, 400 residents, at least 45 businesses, and 46 parcels of land, some with multiple structures. The Metro Nashville Codes Department has deemed 10 buildings unsafe.
“While the disaster that drove us to create the Nashville Neighbors Fund was horrific, we know that our community will need to rebuild and renew,” Ellen Lehman, president and Founder of The Community Foundation said in the release. “We are grateful to our new neighbors, DraftKings, for supporting these recovery efforts. And in keeping true to the neighbors helping neighbors sentiment, their generous gift will provide support to our downtown residents, employees, and businesses.”
