Following a devastating earthquake in Haiti on Sunday, tennis star Naomi Osaka has announced that she will donate the prize winnings from her next tournament to fund relief efforts in the country. She began playing in the Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati on Monday.
Osaka, who is of Haitian and Japanese descent, announced the donation on Twitter writing, “Really hurts to see all the devastation that’s going on in Haiti, and I feel like we really can’t catch a break. I’m about to play a tournament this week and I’ll give all the prize money to relief efforts for Haiti. I know our ancestors blood is strong we’ll keep rising.”
Osaka has often used her platform as a professional athlete to advocate for social justice and mental health issues. Her latest action is a continued commitment to those values. Her current tournament has prize winnings of $255,220 for the women’s singles winner and $188,945 for the runner-up.
If you are looking for ways to support relief efforts in Haiti, check out this list of reputable NGOs providing aid on the ground.
