The Houston Rockets star recently announced the creation of a new organization that will help rebuild schools in China - starting with $2 million of his own cash.
Basketball player Yao Ming might be one of the largest people to ever come from China - and it looks like he’s got a heart to match.
The super-sized star of the Houston Rockets team recently announced the creation of the “Yao Ming Foundation,” a charity organization dedicated to rebuilding schools in China, following the tragic consequences of last month’s 8.0 earthquake, in which hundreds of thousands were killed and more than 8,000 schoolhouses were destroyed.
“It is very hard to put into words how difficult it is to see this kind of destruction,” Yao said in a statement. “My thoughts and actions are now focused on helping to rebuild the schools that were destroyed in this tragedy and I hope that others around the world will join in our efforts.”
Yao has already donated $2 million of his own money to the organization, which was launched under the unbrella of the Giving Back Fund, a nonprofit that helps athletes and other celebrities become involved in philanthropic pursuits. Many of his teamates on the Houston Rockets have contributed to the fund for China, and businesses and individuals from Houston have already donated more than $100,000 to the fund.
“Houston has shown it has a big heart, and helping to build new schools for people so devastated by the earthquake in China demonstrates it again,” said the city’s mayor, Bill White. “We’re proud to work with Yao Ming and generous contributors to make it happen.”
If you’d like to make a donation to the fund to help rebuild schools in China, visit The Yao Ming Foundation site for more information.