Adrian Peterson Donating $100K To Hometown For Flood Relief
Adrian Peterson has pledged more than $100,000 to his hometown of Palestine, Texas, to help deal with flood damage to the area. Adrian Peterson had said his donation will start with $100K, but he is also going to match other donations that are earmarked for the area. Already known as one of the best running backs in the NFL, Peterson is someone who was moved when he saw footage of the damage to Palestine, Texas, and was even more moved when he found out the flooding took the lives of six people.
After a disaster in his hometown, @AdrianPeterson is on the case and looking for your help.https://t.co/6Wkicc381L pic.twitter.com/8lCmja3lf6
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) May 5, 2016
It was all he could stand when Peterson found out one of the people killed in the flooding was an old high school teammate. As Vikings reports, Adrian Peterson had known Giovani Olivas since they were in Elementary school. Talking about his friendship with the man on Wednesday, Peterson talked about Olivas’ broad smile.
“One thing I remember about Giovani, it’s so funny because when you look at him, you’re like, ‘Why are you playing football?,’ because the guy was so skinny. The one thing I’ll never forget about him was that big smile because he always carried a big smile on him and was genuinely a good guy and had a good heart.”
Adrian Peterson says he’ll be returning to his hometown this weekend, and until he can get back there, Peterson is receiving updates through another old friend in the area. Peterson gave credit to this friend, saying he’s been kind of a soldier until he can get his people down to Palestine to help with the cleanup. The $100,000 pledge will go towards the Salvation Army’s attempts to rebuild the area after the massive flooding destroyed property and lives.
#Vikings RB Adrian Peterson to donate $100,000 to flood victims in Texas hometown and will match other donations. https://t.co/CGk0681AC3
— Chris Tomasson (@christomasson) May 5, 2016
Adrian Peterson knows he won’t be able to fund the entire effort on his own. He has turned to his fan base to help out as well. Peterson said he would match any dollar donated to the cause.While Adrian Peterson certainly cares for his hometown, he’s also looking to give money because this is an area of Texas that was genuinely shocked to get so much flooding. Peterson says the town of 19,000 isn’t a place that usually sits in the crosshairs of this kind of damage.
As he told ESPN, Peterson isn’t the only one who was shocked to see the flooding. The future hall of famer said his mother, who is 50-years-old has never seen this kind of devastation either. The Viking says the area has seen plenty of torrential rains but nothing to this magnitude. The damage was caused when a massive downpour caused the Wells Creek to rise more rapidly than the city was expecting. The rise turned to a flood, and once it had overflowed its banks, it took out some houses and businesses in Palestine. Lenda Asberry was another of the six who passed away. Witnesses say she died when was attempting to save her four great-grandchildren. Sadly, all five members of the family succumbed to the flood waters.
Peterson is not someone who left his hometown and never looked back, even before the death and destruction. Adrian Peterson holds a kind of festival every year in Palestine. When talking about his efforts to repair the town he spoke about the people he meets every year he knows are affected by this disaster. This year, Adrian is going to be having his annual festival on June 18. While there will be plenty of festivities, it won’t be all about fun and frivolity. Adrian Peterson said there would be quite a bit of talk about flood awareness and response mixed in.
[Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images]
