UK MBB to Host Telethon for Hurricane Harvey Victims on Sunday

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Humbled by the devastation of Hurricane Harvey, John and Ellen Calipari, Joe and Kelly Craft, and the Kentucky men’s basketball team – in conjunction with WKYT – will host a telethon Sunday from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. on WKYT and its affiliates across the state. One hundred percent of the proceeds will go to the American Red Cross to benefit the victims of the catastrophic storm.
 
The “Teaming Up For Texas” telethon will air throughout the state (current affiliates are below), as members of the UK men’s basketball team will take phone calls and donations. Special guests are expected to participate in the show.

Viewers and participants can begin donating at 3:30 p.m. ET by calling 855.257.2700 or 859.299.5455. Donations can also be made online at redcross.org/teamingupfortexas.
 

 
“I have not been able to stop thinking about everyone who has been affected by Hurricane Harvey,” John Calipari said. “Every time I turn on the TV, I’m stunned at the images of devastation in Texas. It hits home for me because of the players we’ve had come from that area, including Andrew and Aaron Harrison, De’Aaron Fox and now Jarred Vanderbilt. Thankfully their families are safe, but there are a whole lot of people down there who aren’t as fortunate.
 
“The Big Blue Nation has already been terrific in helping us raise $150,000 for the victims of Hurricane Harvey by showing up to last week’s UK Alumni Charity Game and the response to the University of Houston’s call earlier this week for clothing has been terrific, but we can do even more. I hope our fans will join me, Ellen, Joe and Kelly Craft, and our team in helping raise money this weekend. No donation is too small.”
 
Teaming Up For Texas will be streamed live at WKYT.com, UKathletics.com, CoachCal.com, and on the official @UKCoachCalipari and @KentuckyMBB Facebook pages.
 
UK has held two previous telethons under Calipari to assist with natural disasters. In 2010, Kentucky and Calipari used a telethon to raise more than $1 million for victims of the devastating earthquake in Haiti. UK followed that up with another telethon in 2012 that generated $1 million for victims of Superstorm Sandy. Calipari also helped raise funds for West Liberty, Kentucky, after tornadoes ravaged the town in 2012.
 
For more information from the Red Cross, please visit redcross.org or contact Lynne Washbish at Lynne.Washbish@redcross.org.
 
For the latest on the Kentucky men’s basketball team, follow @KentuckyMBB on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, and on the web at ukathletics.com.
 
Current Kentucky Stations Set to Air Telethon:
 

#BBN, we need you tomorrow. Everyone in Texas needs you tomorrow. I hope you will join us for the #TeamingUpForTexas telethon. pic.twitter.com/lFJ0Obuo1C

— John Calipari (@UKCoachCalipari) September 2, 2017