A coalition of professional athletes have partnered with the National Conference of Black Mayors (NCBM) and other key groups to raise cash for victims of Hurricane Katrina.
(PRWEB) September 6, 2005 -- A coalition of professional athletes have partnered with the National Conference of Black Mayors (NCBM) and other key groups to raise cash for victims of Hurricane Katrina.
It is our goal to raise at least $10 million dollars as well as send massive amounts of resources to the areas devastated by this tragedy," said Detroit Pistons forward, Dale Davis.
Davis is spearheading the effort to raise funds amongst his colleagues in sports and other business associates.
In addition to assisting Mayor Nagin, who is amongst our membership, we are also focusing on ensuring that the voices of all of our Mayors are being heard," commented NCBM Executive Director, Vanessa Williams.
Our mayors in at least 54 small, rural towns have yet to receive any assistance. They are not getting the attention they deserve," Williams continued.
Cities like Port Gibson, MS; Duck Hill, MS; Natchez, MS; Napoleonville, LA; Monroe; LA; Bastrop, LA; and Prichard, AL are experiencing just as much destruction as the areas that have been part of media spotlight.
In a handwritten letter received by the NCBM office, Mayor Debra Mabry of Goodman, Mississippi writes:
I cannot contact you in any manner other than through writing. Our town at this time has no lights, telephone services, and our water situation is getting to a serious stage….. please get in touch with me at your earliest," she wrote.
Portland Trailblazers center, Theo Ratliff hopes our contributions will help people to begin to rebuild their lives in some small way."
I am also from a small town," Ratliff said. I can relate to the people in these small towns throughout Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee. My wife Kristina and I pledge to do what we can to assist them through this terrible ordeal."
Davis concluded," we are establishing a fund and working directly with the NCBM to insure that the money is placed directly in the hands of the people in need. We want to avoid as much red-tape, applications and forms as possible."
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