Kevin Durant Donates $1 Million To Red Cross For Oklahoma Tornado Relief

Kevin Durant may have a mean streak while on the court, but he’s doing everything he can to help his hometown fans to recover from the carnage of Monday’s storm. The Oklahoma City Thunder star has pledged to donate $1 million to the relief efforts surrounding the devastating Moore, Okla., tornado.

The $1 million donation was made through Durant’s personal charity, the Durant Family Foundation, the American Red Cross announced Tuesday. The pledge is meant to match other donations made to the Oklahoma tornado relief fund, as well as to encourage others to contribute to the ongoing effort.

“[Kevin Durant] steps forward and gives $1mil matching gift to the ARC for disaster relief,” Oklahoma’s branch of the Red Cross tweeted on Tuesday, mentioning Durant’s Twitter handle. Red Cross regional CEO Janienne Bella also made special note of Durant’s $1 million donation. On Tuesday, she said that the organization was grateful for the 24-year-old’s “generosity,” the Associated Press reports.

On Monday, Durant took to Twitter to urge local residents and the tornado’s victims to stay safe. “Praying for the victims of the Tornadoes in OKC these last few days..Everybody stay safe!” he wrote. Later, he posted the Red Cross’ donation information to his 4.1 million Twitter followers, asking them to lend aid to those affected by the storm.

The three-time NBA scoring champion was just one of several celebrities who were at the forefront of the Oklahoma tornado donation movement. "Text REDCROSS to 90999 to help Oklahoma tornado victims," “Parks & Recreation” actor Adam Scott tweeted. "I just donated to Oklahoma Tornado Victims Fund via @ryotnews,” “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” star Kristen Bell wrote.

Durant isn’t the first celebrity to make a massive donation to a disaster relief fund. In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, New York native Lady Gaga donated $1 million to the Red Cross’ superstorm relief efforts. NBCUniversal’s Hurricane Sandy telethon managed to raise an addition $23 million.

The Red Cross is still accepting $10 pledges from those who wish to aid the victims of the Oklahoma tornado. Interested parties can donate by texting “REDCROSS” to 90999.