In the face of catastrophic floods, teams rallied to support devastated communities.
In Texas, sports rivalries run deep. Cowboys or Texans? Mavericks or Spurs? Rangers or Astros? Loyalty to a sports team often feels like familial loyalty—it’s that personal. But when devastating floods tore through the Texas Hill Country this past July, killing 135 people and affecting thousands of others, those rivalries faded. In their place emerged something much more powerful: a unified response, a shared sense of civic responsibility, and compassion for suffering Texan communities.
Nearly forty professional sports organizations across football, baseball, basketball, soccer, and other organizations united to launch the Texas Sport for Healing Fund, a joint philanthropic initiative designed to provide long-term support for Texas communities directly impacted by this tragedy by investing in the needs of those who have been most affected.
The Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, and the NFL started the fund off with a joint $1.5 million donation. Many others, including the Spurs, Mavericks, Rockets, Astros, Rangers, FC Dallas, and more quickly followed. Anchored by the San Antonio Area Foundation, the fund became a compelling exemplar of statewide unity. Competition was set aside, and these teams worked together to meet an urgent need.
Sports franchises are often seen primarily as sources of entertainment, but moments of crisis reveal their broader role as civic institutions. These teams have the resources, visibility, and influence to bring people together for causes that truly matter. Through the Texas Sport for Healing Fund and their individual platforms, teams also offered several ways for their fans to contribute to this effort. A national online auction raised funds through offering more than 150 pieces of rare sports memorabilia, while special merchandise—including “Texas Strong” t-shirts—gave fans another way to contribute. In total, more than $6.3 million has already been raised by these sports teams and their fans for flood relief, with additional donations and proceeds still coming in.
For many families, the flooding’s toll was deeply personal. My own little cousin lost a life-long best friend in the tragic flash flood. Across the state, people are mourning loved ones, rebuilding homes, and struggling to recover as their lives have changed drastically. In such times, community is essential. Relief happens when the little platoons of society step up: when neighbors offer helping hands, churches and local groups open their doors, and institutions with the ability to help use their resources for the common good. The Texas Sport for Healing Fund shows how collective philanthropy can turn compassion into real change during a crisis.
This tremendous effort is about more than one disaster. It highlights the responsibility leaders carry to step in when their communities are in need. Rivalries will return on the field, but off the field, these organizations have shown that true leadership lies in the willingness to step up and work together in moments of need. And just as importantly, this initiative reminds us that philanthropy is not only the work of foundations or wealthy donors. By buying a shirt, bidding in an auction, or giving directly, fans were able to take part in supporting recovery efforts for those who have suffered devastating loss.
The Texas Sport for Healing Fund is, at its core, a story of authentic civic responsibility and love of community. It shows that when institutions act with generosity and when individuals give what they can, lives are changed. In a summer marked by loss, Texas sports organizations offered more than financial aid—they offered an example of what it looks like when a community comes together.