By now you know abouts former San Antonio spurs big man at Tim Duncan’s efforts to help his native U.S. Virgin Islands after Hurricane Irma. Now, another Texas athlete is helping to give relief to the Caribbean after Hurricane Maria.
According to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban loaned the team plane to point guard J.J. Barea, a native of the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico, who took the plane to deliver supplies to his home island.
Barea and his wife Viviana Ortiz have created a fundraiser that has thus far raised six figures to aid the island. As of writing, Puerto Rico has no electricity and much of the water is undrinkable, according to the New York Times.
Via ESPN:
Barea left Monday afternoon and plans to return Tuesday night, missing the first day of Mavs training camp.
“I was really proud of J.J. and how quickly he got involved and how hard he worked to make all of this happen,” Cuban told ESPN in a text message.
“That’s a situation that he’s got to take care of,” coach Rick Carlisle said. “Mark gave him our team plane. They loaded up a bunch of stuff, supplies, etc., to take over to Puerto Rico, and they’re going to turn around and come back. He’s going to take his mom and grandmother back with him, and my understanding is his dad is going to stay over there and slug it out with all of the recovery efforts.”
You can donate to Barea and Ortiz’s fundraiser here.
