Athletes Affected by the Haiti Disaster

If you haven’t stopped and taken a moment to view the devastation caused be the Haitian earthquake, please do so, it’s heartbreaking. Thankfully, like Hurricane Katrina or the Tsunami of 2004, people of all countries, races and religious backgrounds put aside their differences and do what they can to assist their fellow humans in a time of need. 

We a BetOnline.com would like to encourage our members to make a donation, send supplies or anything else you can do to help the people of Haiti, in their time of need.

Donating is as easy as texting from your mobile phone.  

• If you can give $10 the American Red Cross, text “Haiti” to 90999 and the donation will show up on your phone bill. 
• If you can give $5, text YELE to 501501, which is a direct donation to the Yele Haiti Earthquake Fund.
• You can make donations online through UNICEF – Click here
• Doctors Without Borders – Click Here

Being a sportsbook, our focus throughout the year is on the the big game but it takes times like these to remember the athletes we cheer for every weekend, aren’t just the people who win or lose us money, they are human beings.  Just like Haitian born, Pierre Garcon of the Indianapolis Colts. Garcon is struggling with the devastation to his homeland and the possible loss of family and friends while he tries to remain focused on his team’s NFL playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens.

Today Garcon said that he has heard from his mom and that some are OK but he is still waiting for word on several members of his extended family.

"Aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews. We still have not heard much from them and my mom is still trying to call them," said Garcon.

"I’m keeping in contact with my mom. It’s tough to get in touch with people down there because of the phone lines."

Pierre Garcon must have mixed emotions right now as he prepares for his game against the Colts, his mind must continually wonder to the struggle of his family and friends in Haiti. As sports fans, we want our team’s players to play through adversity. We all remember Brett Favre’s incredible performance against the Raiders the day after his father passed away but I think if Garcon sits out on Sunday that we should do the right thing and give Pierre Garcon a pass.

Of course Pierre Garcon is not the only Haitian born athlete dealing with the disaster, Sam Dalembert of the Philadelphia 76ers, who was born in Haiti but moved to Montreal as a teenager, has been actively soliciting donations. Dalembert will donate $100,000 to the relief efforts as well as match fan donations dollar for dollar at Friday night’s game.  Dalembert’s father is in Haiti and the 76er said he has located his father in the mayhem.

Andre Berto is in preparation for the biggest fight of his life. On January 30, undefeated Boxer Andre Berto will face Sugar Shane Mosley in hopes of a title fight against either Manny Pacquiao or Floyd Mayweather.  Berto was born in Miami to Haitian parents and after missing a spot on the US Olympic team boxed for Haiti in the 2004 Olympics.

"I’m devastated by everything currently happening in Haiti," Berto said Wednesday. "As everybody knows, I have a lot of family members in Haiti and proudly represented Haiti in the 2004 Olympic Games. Like many other Haitian-Americans, my family and I are working to reach my loved ones. From what we have learned to this point, some of my family members are still missing and we have already been informed that members of my family have passed away in the earthquake."

Unlike Garcon, Berto won’t have a chance to take his night off, I feel this tragedy will fuel his fire as he fights Mosley; I’m going to put my money behind him.

Again, please donate what you can. Donating is as easy as texting from your mobile phone.  

• If you can give $10 the American Red Cross, text “Haiti” to 90999 and the donation will show up on your phone bill. 
• If you can give $5, text YELE to 501501, which is a direct donation to the Yele Haiti Earthquake Fund.
• You can make donations online through UNICEF – Click here
• Doctors Without Borders – Click Here

There are countless other ways to donate to help the earthquake victims in Haiti but please remember only donate to reputable charities, sadly in times of crisis; there are those who wish to exploit people’s generosity.