IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser.

Seattle's Sports Teams Go to Bat for Washington Mudslide Victims

The Mariners are donating $225,000, the Sounders raised $32,000 and the Seahawks joined other athletes visiting the devastated area's children.
Image: Seattle Seahawks linebacker Malcolm Smith, center, signs autographs outside the Darrington Community Center
Seattle Seahawks linebacker Malcolm Smith signs autographs Tuesday outside the Darrington Community Center in Darrington, Wash.Marcus Yam / The Seattle Times via AP

Seattle sports teams are pitching in to help the beleaguered residents of communities devastated by last month's deadly Washington mudslides — not only by donating and raising hundreds of thousands of dollars, but also by giving the region's children a rare reason to smile.

The Seattle Mariners baseball team announced Wednesday that it was joining Major League Baseball and the players union in donating $225,000 for disaster relief and recovery through the American Red Cross.

"The scope of this tragedy is almost too big to comprehend," said Howard Lincoln, the team's chief executive. "Our entire community is grieving for those whose lives have been affected by the mudslide."

Image: Blitz, the Seattle Seahawks NFL football mascot, gives a high five at a community gathering in Darrington, Wash.
Blitz, the Seattle Seahawks' mascot, gives a high-five Monday at a community gathering in Darrington, Wash.Ted S. Warren / AP

On Monday, six members of the Super Bowl-winning Seahawks and six members of Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer visited the scene to play some pickup games with local children, many of whom they met with in a gathering closed to the media.

"I just know the community is affected," Seahawks linebacker Malcolm Smith, the Most Valuable Player of the team's Super Bowl victory, told NBC station KING of Seattle. "You can see it on their faces."

Sounders midfielder Aaron Kovar said he was "just thankful they let us come and help out as much as we can."

Image: Seattle Sounders' Micheal Azira, right, of Uganda, stands with Sounders' Kenny Cooper, left, during a pickup soccer match
Kenny Cooper, left, and Micheal Azira of Seattle Sounders FC play a pickup soccer match Monday with children in Darrington, Wash.Ted S. Warren / AP

"I thinks it's cool, just seeing these kids so excited," Kovar said. It's a pretty awesome opportunity."

Karen Barkholz — whose husband, Thomas, is president of the board of the North Counties Family Services, a regional agency coordinating relief efforts — said the kids' broad smiles proved the visit meant a lot.

"We haven't seen those all week," Barkholz said. "There's been no reason to smile. We haven't had a reason to smile."

The visit came just a day after Sounders supporters raised more than $32,000 for Red Cross disaster relief efforts at their game Sunday.

Volunteers for the Red Cross will also be at the Mariners' home opener next Tuesday against the Los Angeles Angels to collect donations.

— M. Alex Johnson