Yao Ming will make donation to Houston Hurricane Relief Fund
YAO MING
HOUSTON (FOX 26) - Hall of Fame center Yao Ming, former Rockets star, will be in Houston Tuesday to make a donation to Mayor Sylvester Turner's Hurricane Relief Fund, Mayor Turner said Monday night.
"He has offered to provide support to the Harvey Disaster Relief Fund that we have put together," said Mayor Turner in an interview with FOX 26 Sports. "He's intending to make a sizeable contribution, with the focus being on schools, education and children."
The donation is expected to be for at least $100,000.
"He reached out to me and wanted to make this contribution," Mayor Turner said. "It means a great deal, and again another one of our iconic sports heroes, people who have been superstars on the court, and they are demonstrating they are superstars in the community as well.
"For Yao to step up and say I want to help out. I want my contribution be directed to our schools, our children, education means a great deal."
Yao will take time to visit one of the schools that was badly damaged.
"He wanted to be at one of the schools that was impacted," Mayor Turner said. "He wanted to show his support, and it's not just about the monetary contribution. It's very generous, but the fact that he's giving of himself, giving of his time, wanted to go out to the schools, meet the kids, It just speaks volumes.
"This is a very blessed city. It is a can-do city. People like Yao Ming, JJ (Watt), James Harden, Chris Paul, the list goes on and on. All of these individuals have stepped up and are contributing to our city."
Yao is president of the Chinese Basketball Association.
"I can't say enough for (Yao)," Mayor Turner said. "I was already looking up at him, and now he's even gotten taller in my eyes and I think in the eyes of all Houstonians."