Oakland Raider Menelik Watson has donated his whole paycheck for one week to bring a 4-year-old girl with a heart problem happy holidays.
Fox Sports' Jay Glazer, who runs
Touchdown Dreams, an organization that puts NFL athletes together with ill children, said the Oakland Raiders came together Sunday to show Ava Urrea a wonderful day when she came to visit the team. That included making her team captain for the day, giving her stuffed animals, treating her to lunch with the team, and a winning performance on the field.
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But Glazer told Fox that there was one unexpected event that made everyone’s day.
“He (Watson) walks over to Ava’s father the other day and hands him his game check for the week. Think about that,” Glazer said. “He said, ‘Sir, I would like to make sure that Ava has the greatest holiday. Here is my game check.’ All the bad things that we hear players do, and all the negative publicity they get, there’s so much good that these guys actually do.”
Many commented on the Fox video and their happiness in seeing positive news.
“Where the hell do I get one of his Jerseys. I hope the little lady survives her devastating diagnosis,” one person wrote in support of Watson’s actions.
NBC Sports reported that Watson makes $622,948 a year, which would make one week’s pay a gross of $36,944. After taxes, that leaves about $18,000 for the family, NBC said.
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