Panthers Owner Jerry Richardson Donates $100,000 To Charleston Victims

Panthers owner Jerry Richardson has donated $100,000 to the Mother Emanuel Hope Fund to help the families that lost loved ones during the shooting in Charleston on Wednesday, June 17.

The Mother Emanuel Hope Fund was set up by the city of Charleston to “provide direct financial support for the funeral and burial expenses of the nine victims,” CBS Sports reports.

“This city’s fund will provide direct financial support for the funeral and burial expenses of the nine victims of the senseless tragedy,” the fund’s website explains. “Any funds remaining after the funeral and burial expenses are paid will be donated directly to the AME Church for use as determined by its leadership.”

In a letter, Richardson explained how the money was to be divided — $10,000 per family of the victims and $10,000 to Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church,

Bakari Sellers, a Democratic member of the South Carolina House of Representatives, tweeted a picture of a letter Richardson wrote along with his donation, making it public on Saturday. “Jerry Richardson and the Carolina Panthers donated $100k to the victims families. People are so gracious. Warms my [heart],” Bakari tweeted.

Jerry Richardson and the Carolina Panthers donated $100k to the victims families. People are so gracious. Warms my pic.twitter.com/TMs4mTezvx

— Bakari Sellers (@Bakari_Sellers) June 20, 2015

“In honor of Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, Cynthia Hurd, Susie Jackson, Ethel Lance, DePayne Middleton-Doctor, The Reverend Clementa Pinckney, Tywanza Sanders, The Reverend Daniel L. Simmons Sr., and Myra Thompson, please accept the enclosed check from the Carolina Panthers in the amount of $100,000 to provide $10,000 per family to help defray funeral costs and other financial needs of each, and $10,000 for the church as a memorial honoring the victims.

Our hearts are one with those who grieve the loss of these individuals.

Respectfully,

Jerry Richardson”

The Panthers director of communications, Steven Drummond, confirmed the letter’s authenticity on Saturday to the NFL media, according to the NFL’s website.

“We don’t want to comment on the specifics of the donation, but know our hearts are one with those who grieve the loss of these individuals,” Drummond said.

What do you think about the Panthers owner’s donation? Leave your comments below.

[Photo by Streeter Lecka / Getty Images]