Philadelphia 76ers center Samuel Dalembert played Wednesday with a heavy heart knowing of the death and destruction from the earthquake in his native Haiti.
Dalembert has immediate and extended family there but said he at least was able to reach his father and one sister. The eighth-year pro was born in Port-au-Prince, the capital devastated by the 7.0-magnitude quake, and lived there for 14 years before moving to Montreal.
He is working on putting together a fundraiser and will assist in relief efforts. His Samuel Dalembert Foundation works with such organizations as the American Red Cross and UNICEF. The NBA Cares program also is helping out, partnering with UNICEF to support recovery efforts.
"I feel so helpless that I have not been able to do anything," Dalembert, , told The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Other athletes of Haitian descent — including Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Pierre Garcon, WBC welterweight champion Andre Berto and former Iowa State football player James Smith— were also devastated by the quake.
"Aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews. We still have not heard much from them," said Garcon, who was born in Carmel, N.Y., but whose parents immigrated to the USA from Haiti.
When the quake struck, Garcon used his Twitter account to ask fans for help: "We need the US military as soon as possible n haiti We need the 4 million Haitian that live out side of haiti to Act now, we need da world!"
Berto's parents are from Haiti and he has relatives in the country. The Miami native, who fought for Haiti at the Athens Olympics, is to face Sugar Shane Mosley Jan. 30 in Las Vegas. "We have already been informed that members of my family have passed away in the earthquake," Berto said.
Smith's mother, Lidi, lives in Port-au-Prince. They met for the first time last July after being separated 19 years ago, when James was 3 years old.
"I haven't been able to get through to see if she's all right," said Smith, who finished his career in the Cyclones' Dec. 31 win against Minnesota at the Insight Bowl.
The New York Yankee's announced they are donating $500,000 to aid rescue and relief efforts, and Lance Armstrong's Livestrong foundation pledged $250,000 to Partners in Health and Doctors Without Borders .
I follow many sports, but I didn't realize the athletes mentioned in this post are Haitian. I think it’s great that they are contributing to the relief effort in Haiti after the recent earthquake there.
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