The Raiders aren't long for Oakland, but the Silver and Black is still giving back.
Days after the Oakland Unified School District cut 10 high school sports programs in order to eliminate a $500,000 deficit, the Raiders announced on Tuesday they donated $250,000 to the district.
“The prospect of these kids losing their dreams was difficult to hear for everyone in the community,” Raiders owner Mark Davis said in a statement. “After-school athletics are an important part of the high school experience and this donation will keep student-athletes on the playing fields in Oakland.”
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The East Bay Community Foundation will coordinate with the Oakland Athletic League to distribute the money, the statement said.
Last week, Oakland Unified cut half of its high school sports programs. Bowling, swimming, wrestling, boys' and girls' golf, boys' and girls' tennis, girls' lacrosse, girls' badminton, and boys' volleyball were cut, Oakland Unified School District spokesman John Sasaki told the San Francisco Chronicle. In all, the cuts affected 347 female athletes, almost double that of the 183 male athletes and a possible violation of Title IX.
The budget deficit remains over $200,000, according to the Chronicle, despite the Raiders' donation and a separate, $35,000 private donation pegged to save girls' golf and tennis.