Utah Flash Raise $20,000 for Haiti Relief Efforts

I’ve been impressed with the way the basketball community has stepped up to help out with relief efforts. Talking with Utah Flash president Brandt Andersen on Monday, it was clear that his time in Haiti had affected him profoundly. During halftime of the Flash – Red Claws game the team raised more than $17,000, including donations from fans and businesses.

Here are two other amazing stories from the Andersen’s group in Haiti:

Haiti quake sends father on blessing-filled odyssey for daughter

Haiti binds a broken heart

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On the other side of the ledger of humanity, Tuesday’s Twitter talk was all about Greg Oden and Paul Shirley, for reasons related to the same word. It’s a noun for Oden, and an adjective for Shirley. I’m only linking to Shirley’s nonsense to make sure people never pay attention to him again. As I said elsewhere, it’s a case study in well-constructed self-destruction. Nice to see ESPN dump him as a contributor. Dave Zirin’s response said everything I’d hoped to say. Go read that and then come back.

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Here’s the press release regarding the relief efforts by the Flash Family Foundation:

UTAH FLASH RAISE $20,000 FOR HAITI

Flash Family Foundation will construct new orphanage outside Port-au-Prince

OREM, UT, Jan. 26, 2010 – Over the past four home games the Utah Flash has raised over $20,000 to help victims of the earthquake destruction in Haiti. During last night’s game each dollar donated from a Flash fan was matched by corporate partners Pinnacle Security, PMI and Hoopes Vision.

Every dollar raised will be used by the Flash Family Foundation to build a new orphanage on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince. During a recent trip to Haiti Flash owner Brandt Andersen and a relief crew found a remote orphanage that had been devastated by the earthquake.

Andersen discovered 50-plus orphans living in the front yard of their destroyed orphanage. They lacked a roof over their head, a place to sleep and running water. During his time in Haiti Andersen acquired a three-acre piece of property near the old orphanage site, and is working with an engineer on the design for a new housing facility.

“Traveling to Haiti did more for me than I was able to do for the Haitian community,” said Andersen. “You cannot see these people, and not want to help. These are beautiful people who will bounce back from this tragedy if we all reach out and help.”

The new facility will have dorms for the children, as well as bathrooms, classrooms, and a playground. Funding for the project will come from donations to the Flash Family Foundation by local partners, season ticket holders and The Flash Family Foundation.

A special donation was made to the project during last night’s Flash game by Check City. The $10,000 Check City donation will be an important piece for the Flash Family Foundation effort to immediately begin construction of the new dormitory for the orphanage. With matching by Pinnacle Security, PMI, and Hoopes Vision the Flash Family Foundation has raised over $20,000, every dollar of which will go directly to the construction of the orphanage.

Additional donations can be made to the Flash Family Foundation by calling 801-434-4667.