Minnesota Wild defenseman Matt Dumba stole the show during Tuesday night’s NBA game between the Timberwolves and Grizzlies. You read that right: A hockey player is easily the biggest talker from a basketball game.
The Wolves lost to the Grizzles 119-112, but those 112 points scored by Minnesota will generate a $11,200 to help provide relief to wildfire-stricken Australia.
Dumba announced before the game that he would donate $100 for every point the Wolves scored against the Grizzlies, saying that he is heartbroken for Australia, having fallen in love with the country during a 2 1/2-week trip there last year.
“I fell in love with this beautiful country. It breaks my heart seeing the tragedy they are facing. So I want to do my part and personally donate funds to help fight these fires and hopefully motivate you to do whatever you can to help,” said Dumba, who is earning $7.4 million this season, according to Spotrac.
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A report from CBS News Tuesday said approximately 1 billion animals have perished in the bushfires, including thousands of koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, gliders, potoroos and cockatoos. The loss of life does not include frogs, insects and invertebrates.
More than 20 million acres have been burned nationwide, with much of the devastation happening New South Wales, whose Rural Fire Service will receive Dumba’s donation.
NBC News reports that bushfires have torched approximately 32,400 square miles, an area of land that if packed together would be about the size of Connecticut.
Here’s Dumba’s full Instagram message:
“As you all have seen across the news and Instagram, Australia is currently in a state of emergency with devastating fires sweeping across the lands, affecting habitats, communities, killing millions of animals and taking human lives.
“It’s hard to understand the dramatic impact this is having sitting safely on the other side of the world, but not to long ago I was on that side of the world. After the season last year I was able to travel to Australia with my one my best friends. We travelled the entire east coast top to bottom over 2 1/2 weeks. After a long hard season dealing with injury I was able to escape and take my mind off all the what if’s. I fell in love with this beautiful country. It breaks my heart seeing the tragedy they are facing. So I want to do my part and personally donate funds to help fight these fires and hopefully motivate you to do whatever you can to help.
“With Minnesota being my home and the TWolves being my team I’ll be most definitely watching them tonight against the Grizzlies, I’ve decided to donate $100 for every point the T Wolves score directly to the New South Wales Rural Fire Service.
“Please help me by donating whatever you can to help with this cause and put an end to these fires. Whether that’s $5, $100 or even just sharing this post if you are not in a position to donate right now, every small action helps when we come together. Click the link in my bio to donate directly to the New South Wales Rural Fire Service to help fight the fires and care for the victims of this tragic event.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7CMub4JbBS
