Jacksonville Jaguars President Mark Lamping announced Tuesday that team owner Shad Khan will donate $1 million to the Florida First Coast Relief Fund to help in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma.
The team also is giving 5,000 tickets to first responders and residents impacted by the storm.
In a statement released by the team, Khan said Jacksonville “has a heart bigger than any community I’ve been associated with in my life.”
“Jacksonville will recover and come back stronger than ever, but who couldn’t use a little help from our friends?” the statement reads.
The Jaguars play the Tennessee Titans at 1 p.m. Sunday at EverBank Field, the first home game of the season.
“It is so important on so many levels to show Jacksonville is open for business,” Lamping said during a news conference at Jacksonville Fire Station No. 2 in Springfield.
He said the ticket donation would “provide some relief and a very small measure of reward” for those assisting in the recovery.
Lamping said the Jaguars also are encouraging their corporate sponsors to donate.
Mayor Lenny Curry said the team was an important part of the city, and that the home game will help bring the community together.
“This is about getting back to normal operations,” Curry said.
Lamping said tickets will be sent to the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department, Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, JEA and other volunteer and municipal organizations assisting in the recovery.
Those impacted by Irma can apply for free tickets through the Jaguars ticket office and will be selected at random.