NBA Star Donates $100k to Increase COVID-19 Testing at Mayo Clinic

We’ve seen some great things from professional athletes in recent days. Kevin Love was one of the first, offering $100,000 to help arena workers affected by the shutdown. Trevor Bauer started a GoFundMe to help workers at MLB stadiums. Countless other stars have followed suit to help out the people affected financially by the suspension of professional sports.
Minnesota Timberwolves superstar big man Karl-Anthony Towns is the latest to make a big gesture, although he went a slightly different direction with his. Towns announced over the weekend that he’ll be donating $100,000 to the world-renowned Mayo Clinic in Minnesota to help with COVID-19 testing.
He shared an image from the Mayo Clinic with the quote “We’re all in this together, let’s protect ourselves and the community around us.” He also posted the following statement:
“The Mayo Clinic has begun rolling out a test to detect the virus that causes COVID-19. My hope is that we can fight this virus quicker and more efficiently by increasing the testing capabilities and availability and Mayo Clinic’s overall COVID-19 response.
This is why I will be donating $100K to support these efforts. Thank you to the Mayo Clinic workers and all healthcare workers who are working around the clock to treat us. You are our heroes.
We’re all in this together, let’s protect ourselves and the community around us.
@MayoClinic has begun rolling out a test to detect the virus that causes COVID-19. My hope is that we can fight this virus quicker and more efficiently by increasing the testing capabilities and availability and Mayo Clinic’s overall COVID-19 response. pic.twitter.com/af9vcO711p
— Karl-Anthony Towns (@KarlTowns) March 16, 2020
Towns is correct – the healthcare workers around the clock to care for coronavirus patients are the true heroes in this country right now. While schools shutter and jobs try to go remote, healthcare workers are going to feel the brunt of this as the number of cases increases, so it’s important to recognize and support ALL of those people.
In a press release about the gift, the Mayo Clinic said it was blown away by the gift and that it would help the hospital increase its testing from 200 per day to more than 1,000 per day.
If you’re looking for other heroes to celebrate during these trying times, give a strong shout-out to everyone who still has to show up at work to keep this country going, especially first responders, grocery store workers and truck drivers (and so many more).
It’s great to see the athletes that get it making a statement and setting a strong example with gifts like these. Now, it may be time for some of those billionaire owners to follow suit.
Here at The Dad, we hope you, your families, and communities stay safe and healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic. For the latest information, please utilize online resources from local public health departments, the Centers for Disease Control, and the World Health Organization to remain as informed as possible.