Company pledges to triple Cliff Avril’s sack donations to Haiti
Nov 3, 2016, 4:42 PM
Every sack Cliff Avril makes at CenturyLink Field will now pay for three houses in Haiti. (AP)
(AP)
Cliff Avril’s sacks at CenturyLink Field will still only count once, but from here on out they will be worth triple to the people of Haiti.
The Seahawks defensive end has pledged to build a new home in Haiti for every sack he makes this season through the New Story charity. And Seth Levine, co-founder of venture firm Foundry Group, announced on Oct. 27 that he raised commitments to more than double the donations for every sack Avril makes during each of the Seahawks’ five remaining home games. That means three homes will be built every time Avril tears down an opposing QB.
Each home costs about $6,000 to build is to be equipped to handle the tumultuous weather that has decimated the country. Avril .
Avril, who is tied for third in the NFL with 7.5 sacks this season and was named the NFC’s defensive player of the month on Thursday, spoke about the matching funds during a press conference Thursday.
“We have companies now that have gotten involved where, now not only is it every time I get a sack, but there is a company that’s matching it for two, so there is three homes going up for every sack,” he said. “So it’s cool to be able to use your platform to be able to help so many other people and that’s what I want to continue to keep doing.”
Avril previously set up a fundraiser on Razoo to help support victims of Hurricane Matthew in Haiti. Avril set a $10,000 goal that he said will provide more than 33,000 meals, 50,000 water units and serve 5,000 patients. More than $6,200 had been raised as of Thursday afternoon.
Avril, whose parents are Haitian, celebrated the opening of a new schoolhouse in the country this offseason and said Thursday he plans to check on the building and the location where the homes will be built early next year.
“Hopefully around April or May time is when these home will be finished and people will be moving in and I want to be a part of that process as well,” he said.
