Just a day after the NBA suspended its regular season, Cleveland Cavaliers star Kevin Love stepped up to help the staff at his home arena.
Love, 31, took to Instagram on Thursday, announcing he was donating $100,000 through his foundation to the support staff at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse.
There were still 17 games left to be played in the Cavaliers’ regular season before the entire league suspended the rest of the season.
Helping hand: Just a day after the National Basketball Association (NBA) suspended their regular season, Cleveland Cavaliers star Kevin Love stepped up to help the staff at the arena he plays in
Home court: Love, 31, took to Instagram on Thursday, announcing he was donating $100,000 through his foundation to the support staff at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse
Love shared a photo of himself in a suit on the floor of Quicken Loans Arena, surrounded by workers in hard hats and others.
‘Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations. And the fear and anxiety resulting from the recent outbreak of COVID-19 can be extremely overwhelming,’ Love began.
‘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,’ he continued.
Basketball: ‘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,’ he continued
Reacts: ‘Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations. And the fear and anxiety resulting from the recent outbreak of COVID-19 can be extremely overwhelming,’ Love began
‘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,’ Love revealed, adding that he hopes, ‘others will join me in supporting our communities.’
Love added that, ‘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,’ he added.
‘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,’ Love concluded.
The Cavaliers organization also released a statement on Thursday, revealing they were, ‘developing a compensation plan to continue paying our event staff and hourly workforce that is impacted by the changes to our regular event schedule.
Love has played in the NBA for 12 seasons, first with the Minnesota Timberwolves, who drafted him out of UCLA, and then with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Safe: ‘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,’ Love concluded
As he indicated in his Instagram post, Love has long been an advocate for mental health, opening up about his struggles after suffering a panic attack during a November 2017 game.
Love’s donation to the Cavaliers arena staff came through his Kevin Love Fund, which, ‘strives to inspire people to live their healthiest lives while providing the tools to achieve physical and emotional well being.’
The fund has benefited organizations such as Bring Change to Mind, Matthew McConaughey’s Just Keep Livin’ Foundation, and the UCLA Athletics Department.
Kate and Kevin: As he indicated in his Instagram post, Love has long been an advocate for mental health, opening up about his struggles after suffering a panic attack during a November 2017 game
Mental health: Love’s donation to the Cavaliers arena staff came through his Kevin Love Fund, which, ‘strives to inspire people to live their healthiest lives while providing the tools to achieve physical and emotional well being’