Saints Owner Donates $5 Million to Team Gleason

Photo Credit: Tom Berg/Getty Image

While the world is still shocked to the core hearing the awful comments allegedly made by Clippers owner Donald Sterling, another owner was showing his kinder side. New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson has pledged $5 million to the Team Gleason House.  The charity helps people who suffer from ALS live as independently as possible.  The charity supplies computers, televisions, lights, etc. that can all be controlled by the person’s eyes.

The charity was started by former Saints player Steve Gleason who suffers from ALS.  Gleason was a key member of the 2006 team that won the Super Bowl. Gleason was forced to step away from the game and revealed in  that he suffered from the debilitating disease.

Benson had this to say about his contribution to such a great cause, “Steve is part of our Saints family.  He suffers from a terrible disease but yet his focus and resolve is centered around finding a cure for ALS and helping others who suffer from ALS live full and prosperous lives — and he is doing that right here in his adopted hometown of New Orleans. We could not be more proud of him and (wife) Michel and Team Gleason.”

ALS, more commonly known as Lou Gherig’s Disease, is a neurodegenerative disease that is characterized by the deterioration of muscle strength.  Currently, Team Gleason is only in New Orleans, but they do hope to expand the charity and help as many people as they can.