Kevin Love Donates $100k to Arena Workers Affected by Suspended NBA Season

As COVID-19 continues to postpone events across the country, some in the sports world are starting to give back to those who will be affected the most. The NBA has suspended their season after a player tested positive for the coronavirus, and while players are understandably shocked, some have had the presence to realize the lack of games affects the little guys far more. Most notably, the part-time employees that staff stadium operations across the league. Without the games, those workers miss out on game income they rely on.
Cleveland Cavaliers superstar Kevin Love gets it. On Thursday, he posted on social media that his foundation would be donating $100,000 to Cleveland’s affected arena staff. His message was about taking care of those in need in communities around the nation.
“Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations. And the fear and anxiety resulting from the recent outbreak of COVID-19 can be extremely overwhelming.
Through the game of basketball, we’ve been able to address major issues and stand together as a progressive league that cares about the players, the fans, and the communities where we work. I’m concerned about the level of anxiety that everyone is feeling and that is why I’m committing $100,000 through the @KevinLoveFund in support of the @Cavs arena and support staff that had a sudden life shift due to the suspension of the NBA season. I hope that during this time of crisis, others will join me in supporting our communities.
Pandemics are not just a medical phenomenon. They affect individuals and society on so many levels, with stigma and xenophobia being just two aspects of the impact of a pandemic outbreak. It’s important to know that those with a mental illness may be vulnerable to the effects of widespread panic and threat. Be kind to one another. Be understanding of their fears, regardless if you don’t feel the same. Be safe and make informed decisions during this time. And I encourage everyone to take care of themselves and to reach out to others in need — whether that means supporting your local charities that are canceling events, or checking in on your colleagues and family.”
The Cavs followed suit by announcing they’d develop a compensation plan for affected employees to make sure they were compensated accordingly. Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban was the first to announce he was going to do something similar to make sure his arena employees were taken care of as well.
Thank you @kevinlove — coming through in the clutch 🙏
We’re behind you, as we also announced earlier today that we are compensating all of our @RMFieldHouse hourly and event staff team members as if every game and every event is still taking place!
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) March 12, 2020
Hopefully, this is a trend that continues in sports and across other affected industries. Either way, it’s always good to see individuals trying to make a difference for people who need it most.