LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — The NFL announced today that the 2020 NFL Draft will serve as a three-day virtual fundraiser benefiting six charities – selected by the NFL Foundation – that are battling the spread of COVID-19 and delivering relief to millions in need.
"We started to think about the best way to bring people together is such an unprecedented time," says Anna Isaacson with the NFL.
The "Draft-A-Thon" will be featured across the live Draft coverage on ABC, ESPN, ESPN Deportes and NFL Network April 23-25 and pay tribute to healthcare workers and first responders in a variety of ways – including raising funds for the work being done to combat the impact of COVID-19. Funds will help support six national nonprofits and their respective COVID-19 relief efforts including:
- American Red Cross and its work to maintain a sufficient supply of blood while continuing to deliver its lifesaving mission due to the Coronavirus Outbreak
- CDC Foundation's All of Us: Combat Coronavirus Campaign to support vulnerable communities and bolster laboratory capacity, clinical research, data and technology infrastructure and local response efforts
- Feeding America's COVID-19 Response Fund to help member food banks meet the increased need due to school closures, job disruptions, and current health risks
- Meals on Wheels COVID-19 Response Fund to ensure local communities have what they need to feed the at-risk elderly population
- Salvation Army and its network form a safety net for individuals and families living in poverty or experiencing homelessness by providing food, shelter, hygiene kits, as well as support to first responders
- United Way's COVID-19 Community Response and Recovery Fund to help those in need access food and shelter, childcare for first responders and more while bolstering 211, United Way's go-to information resource in times of crisis
it's still not clear how much the local levels of these charities will benefit from the Draft-a-thon, but 13 Action News reached out to Feeding America's local chapter Three Square. They say they've seen double the amount of calls in recent weeks.
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"We saw the need really double and triple in some cases," says Brian Burton with Three Square. "There was a line 4 miles long at one of our distribution sites."
