NASHVILLE, Tenn. — DraftKings, a leader in the digital sports entertainment and gaming industry, has announced a donation of nearly $180,000 — $179,579 — to benefit The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee’s Nashville Neighbors Fund.

CFMT established the Nashville Neighbors Fund, in partnership with WTVF-NewsChannel5, to support those impacted from downtown Nashville’s Christmas morning explosion.

DraftKings ran a series of free fantasy sports contests to benefit the Fund, and pledged a $1 donation to the Fund for each participant in the contests. The first of these contests was held for the December 27, Tennessee Titans vs. Green Bay Packers game, attracting 84,692 entrees. Just after the new year, on January 3, DraftKings hosted another contest for the game between the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers, which attracted 94,887 participants and brought the total from both contests to 179,579.

“DraftKings stands with Nashville and the surrounding communities during this difficult time. Nashville is strong, resilient, and will come together to rebuild. We are proud to support The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee during this time of need,” said Matt Kalish, DraftKings co-founder and President, North America.

Grants from the Fund will be made to nonprofits providing services for both the immediate and long-term needs arising from the blast.

“I want to thank all of our customers nationwide for showing their support for Nashville,” Kalish continued. “We’re proud to make this donation on their behalf in support of bringing healing to the Music City.”

“While the disaster that drove us to create the Nashville Neighbors Fund was horrific, we know that our community will need to rebuild and renew,” said Ellen Lehman, president and Founder of The Community Foundation. “We are grateful to our new neighbors, DraftKings, for supporting these recovery efforts. And in keeping true to the neighbors helping neighbors sentiment, their generous gift will provide support to our downtown residents, employees, and businesses.”

Federal and local officials have said Anthony Quinn Warner, 63, of Antioch detonated an RV and blew up a city block on Historic Second Avenue North with unidentified explosives at around 6:30 am, on December 25, outside an AT&T switching station. The bomb killed Warner, injured at least three people, damaged dozens of downtown buildings, and hampered telecommunications systems throughout the Southeast for several days.

The Metro Office of Emergency management has estimated the explosion has affected 1,200 employees, 400 residents, at least 45 businesses, and 46 parcels of land, some with multiple structures. The Metro Nashville Codes Department has deemed 10 buildings unsafe.

To give to the Nashville Neighbors Fund, go to www.cfmt.org/neighbors or call The Community Foundation at (615) 321-4939.

Your tax-deductible gift will be reflected on your credit card statement as The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.

To donate by check, make it out to The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee and note the Nashville Neighbors Fund in the memo line.

Mail your donation to:
The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee
P.O. Box 440225
Nashville, TN 37244

About The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee

The Community Foundation exists to promote and facilitate giving in the 40 counties of Middle Tennessee and beyond. It does this by accepting gifts of any size from anyone at any time and by empowering individuals, families, companies, nonprofits, and communities to respond to needs and opportunities that matter. The Community Foundation works with people who have great hearts, whether or not they have great wealth, to craft solutions that reflect the intentions and goals of their charitable endeavors. For more information, call 615-321-4939 or visit www.cfmt.org.

Published January 14, 2021