The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
A Message To The Blazer Nation
5/9/2011 12:00:00 AM | General
May 9, 2011
Dear Blazer Family,
It has been a little while since the horrific tornadoes blew through the Birmingham and surrounding areas back on April 27. Our city, state and region were shaken to the core, and lives were turned upside-down in a matter of seconds.
Several members of our Blazer family have been impacted by these storms, including a few women's track athletes from the Birmingham and Tuscaloosa areas whose families saw major damage or total destruction to their homes and a former men's basketball player who tragically lost four members of his family in Hale County.
The response by countless volunteers to help so many in despair has been swift and organized. These efforts have served as a great reminder of what can be accomplished when there is a unified commitment.
We have had many of our staff and student-athletes step forward in the aftermath, and I couldn't be prouder of their efforts. Members of our softball, women's golf and football teams traveled to places like Pleasant Grove, Concord and Pratt City to help our neighbors in need. Our Blazer Women's Athletic Society raised $5,000 at their Belles & Whistles Luncheon the day after the storms. Larger-scale efforts have already made an impact, as well, including the United Way Tornado Relief Telethon hosted by ABC 33/40. Several of our head coaches and I helped answer phones at that event on April 29 and saw patrons generously give over $500,000 in just a few hours.
While these efforts to help have remained strong since the events of that day the tornadoes blew through, it is vital that we all continue to rise to the occasion and help in the ongoing recovery and rebuilding of our communities.
I want to challenge everyone in our great Blazer family to find their own call to action. Whether it is through of one of the efforts listed below or otherwise, please do what you can in order to help. Not everyone is able to donate money or goods and not everyone has the physical abilities to do some of the rigorous work to help clean the widespread destruction. However, we can all help in some way. We will be continuing our pledge to help through individual volunteerism and team-based efforts to meet both the short-term and long-term needs of the community we serve.
We know there will be a long-term need for assistance. These storms have taken a physical, mental and emotional toll on everyone affected and involved. Find within yourselves a commitment to this city, this state and this region to play a part in the recovery. The UAB Blazers certainly will.
Brian
Blazers for Birmingham: http://www.facebook.com/blazersforbirmingham
Tornado Relief Fund of the UAB Benevolent Fund: https://www.uab.edu/onlinegiving/eGivingSystem.aspx?page=1&UnitID=36&FundID=803#ctl00_cphMainContent_ctl00_pnlUnitDescription
Hands on Birmingham: http://www.handsonbirmingham.org/specialevents/viewSpecialEvent.php?_setFlag=specialevent&_clearFlag=course
United Way Tornado Relief Telethon hosted by ABC 33/40: http://www.abc3340.com/story/14565612/united-way-tornado-relief-telethon
