Teaming Up for Texas telethon raises over $1 million

Kentucky+mens+basketball+sponsors+Teaming+Up+for+Texas+Telethon+in+collaboration+with+the+Red+Cross+to+raise+money+for+victims+of+Hurricane+Harvey+in+Houston.+Photo+by+Quinn+Foster+%7C+UK+Athletics

Kentucky men’s basketball sponsors Teaming Up for Texas Telethon in collaboration with the Red Cross to raise money for victims of Hurricane Harvey in Houston. Photo by Quinn Foster | UK Athletics

Chris Leach

John Calipari has been instrumental in helping the people affected by Hurricane Harvey, and on Sunday afternoon his Teaming Up for Texas telethon raised over one million dollars with matching funds for those who are in need of help.

The final total from the show was $945,000, but donations from after the show pushed the total above the million-dollar mark. As the show was ending Calipari donated $50,000 to push the amount over $900,000. Calipari also made a $25,000 donation earlier in the telethon.

“I’m just so proud of the people of Kentucky,” Calipari said in a press release following the telethon.

Calipari wasn’t the only one to make a considerable donation, as several connections to Calipari called in on the show to do what they could for Houston.

One of the biggest donations came from Jon Hock, an ESPN 30 for 30 producer, who produced Calipari’s “One and Not Done” documentary. With an hour remaining in the show, Hock pledged $100,000 towards Calipari’s telethon.

Kelly Knight Craft, who has been confirmed to serve as the next United States Ambassador to Canada, donated $25,000. Calipari attended Craft’s confirmation hearing in Washington D.C. back in July.

Several current UK coaches made donations to the telethon, including Matthew Mitchell, Mark Stoops, Brian Craig and Golda Burst.   

Mitchell and Stoops both donated $25,000 and Craig and Burst combined for a $1,000 donation. 

“How about Mark (Stoops) and Matthew Mitchell and their families giving $25,000 each? How about our golf coaches (Brian Craig and Golda Borst) throwing in money? It was everybody doing their part to make this happen,” Calipari said in the press release. 

Several of Calipari’s former players called into the show to talk with their former coach about the events that unfolded in Houston, as well as make donations. De’Aaron Fox, Julius Randle, John Wall and Karl-Anthony Towns were some of the former athletes to chime in on the show.

All the money will be sent to the American Red Cross in an effort to provide relief for those affected by the storm. Calipari also said he plans on visiting the area on Sept. 10 to see how big of an impact the telethon’s donations made. 

Anyone interested in donating to Calipari’s telethon still has the chance to do so by visiting redcross.org/teamingupfortexas.