Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers donating $1m to California wildfire relief efforts
Wednesday 21 November 2018 22:15, UK
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is donating $1m (£783,198) to help with recovery efforts after two wildfires spread across California earlier this month.
Rodgers announced he has decided to donate the money to the North Valley Community Foundation after discussions with the mayor of his hometown of Chico, California.
"As many of you know, the California wildfires have devastated countless communities," Rodgers said in a video posted on Twitter.
"In Northern California, where I was born and raised, the city of Paradise burned to the ground, and many of the residents that got out are now displaced in my hometown of Chico and across the north state.
"I personally reached out to my friends and the mayor of Chico to find out how to be of the most help, and raising money for both immediate needs and the long-term recovery is what's needed most right now.
"This is why I'm partnering with the North Valley Community Foundation and donating $1m to help with recovery and eventual rebuild of these communities."
Rodgers also announced his long-time partner State Farm will donate $1 up to $1m for every retweet of Rodgers' original tweet until midnight ET on Sunday, November 25.
The company said: "In addition to the $1m dollars Aaron is donating to the North Valley Community Foundation, State Farm Neighbourhood of Good will donate $1, up to $1m, for every retweet of Aaron's post."
Rodgers was wearing a Butte Strong sweatshirt in the video and wore the same shirt after last week's game against the Seattle Seahawks.
He played football at Butte Community College in Oroville before transferring to UC Berkeley.
The Packers announced later on Wednesday they were donating $250,000 to support the victims of the fire in Butte County.
"We are proud to join Aaron in donating to his relief effort for the many people and communities impacted by the devastating wildfires in his home state of California," said Packers president/CEO Mark Murphy.
"He has very deep roots in Northern California. Our thoughts are with all of those impacted, as well as the first responders, and we send our support to these communities as they begin to recover, rebuild and heal."
