The Los Angeles Rams are just beginning their partnership with the local ABC television affiliate, KABC-7. Although there is still a ways before any Rams football content will be broadcast on KABC, the team and the station have already started working together.
This past Tuesday evening, the Rams and KABC jointly hosted a virtual telethon, with additional support from the local LA ESPN radio station, ESPN 710 AM. The “Te’LA’thon” was put in motion to help relieve the workload on local institutions and citizens combating the effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
While the coronavirus has put not just the sports world on hold, but the entire world, many are having difficulties finding basic necessities such as paper products and even food. The Rams and KABC specifically chose to partner with United Way of Greater Los Angeles, a program to help fight poverty, and the LA Food Bank.
According to Rams COO Kevin Demoff, the event went on without a hitch and helped raise over $2 million for the organizations:
Amazing work @RamsNFL fans & Los Angeles. Over $2m raised so far for @LAUnitedWay @LAFoodBank to help those most in need from the CoronaVirus pandemic. We are keeping phones & website open through 9pm, but if you excuse me, time to go begin searching for some mean tweets to read! https://t.co/y7sl24x1XW
— Kevin Demoff (@kdemoff) March 25, 2020
For those who missed the telethon but still wish to donate, both United Way and L.A. Food Bank are still accepting donations to help combat the effects of the global pandemic. United Way has started their own Pandemic Relief Fund which will provide funds for medical relief as well as investments to help support economic growth in Los Angeles. The L.A. Food Bank is accepting normal donations, with $100 going to provide as many as 400 meals.
Demoff will have to make good on a promise he made earlier in the telethon. He sent out another tweet promising that if the total amount of donations reaches over $2 million, he will read the top 10 meanest tweets about the Rams’ new logo.
As for the rest of sports, the NFL is one of few major North American sports leagues yet to suspend play. Of course, the NFL is the only major league normally in its offseason at this time. The NFL did decide to cancel all public events in Las Vegas for the upcoming NFL Draft, but free agency and the draft are both proceeding relatively normally.
