Growing tiresome of the lack of help from the United States government, Josh Norman has pledged to donate $100,000 to aid Puerto Rico following the devastation left by Hurricane Maria.
“It’s truly bigger than football and everything else,” Norman said in a phone interview with Master Tesfatsion of the Washington Post. “This is not my job. This is my personal life. I don’t care what other people may think or say, like, ‘Just play football.’ No. You go to work, and you do what you want to do. After work, it’s no longer your job. So, for me, I look at it as I’m on this Earth to help people and help them be the best that they can be. I have the means to do so. I’m going to do that.”
Norman wants to get in contact with the U.S. territory’s Governor, Ricardo Rosselló, and San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz to help direct the money to where its needed.
Norman’s pledge comes less than a week after he was very critical of President Donald Trump after Trump criticized the National Football League for its players protesting by kneeling during the National Anthem. It was Trump’s perceived lack of response that triggered Norman to pledge a donation to the Puerto Rico.
It's truly sad what's going on over in PR🇵🇷 So SAD that the @Potus decide to go🏌
in lieu of doing his Job! aiding ppl who need the most.— *Joshua R. Norman (@J_No24) September 30, 2017
I would encourage the ppl who can b/c you have the means to do so. Come forth it's always a blessing to be a blessing to some1 else in need.
— *Joshua R. Norman (@J_No24) September 30, 2017
So to the GOV&MAYOR of PR🇵🇷 I'm sending 100,000$ as a Start to help you guys out b/c you all are citizens of U.S Just like us..🇵🇷🇺🇸
— *Joshua R. Norman (@J_No24) September 30, 2017
Norman has been strong before in both the D.C. Area and his hometown Greenwood, S.C. communities through his Starz24 foundation. But, Saturday’s pledge will certainly come with a heighten attention given the current climate of the NFL with the protests for social justice and racial inequality.
“What [Trump’s] done is he’s brought light to a situation,” Norman added. “So now, I’m using that light for something good. Not evil, something good. I’m not about to go back-and-forth and have squabble match with a guy who is incompetent. I’m going to actually use my ability for something that’s good, something that’s righteous. If you have it, then do it…”
Hopefully, Norman’s actions will spark more support from players and other public figures to aid with Puerto Rico.
