It’s been four months since Hurricane Helene ripped through the Western part of North Carolina, and while the repair efforts are underway, there is still a lot of work left to do to restore that part of the state. As someone who has family that lives in the area, seeing the way the communities have come together has been humbling, but there’s more work to be done.
Roy Williams, the former head basketball coach at UNC, and a native of Asheville, has been at the forefront of helping the restoration of his hometown, and today he furthered those efforts. Williams is officially partnering with Verizon, to eliminate $10 million dollars of medical and financial debt, helping nearly 6,500 Western North Carolinians, in the aftermath of Helene’s distruction. Those that have been helped will receive a phone call from Roy Williams himself, as he’ll deliver the news personally.
In a press release about the announcement of the debt forgiveness, Williams was quoted saying, “Verizon’s random acts of kindness will lift up thousands of North Carolinians that were left vulnerable to Hurricane Helene’s devastation. These are challenging times, but I’ve seen the strength and resilience of this community. Verizon’s support is a powerful reminder that no one is alone, and together, we’ll rise stronger. It’s a privilege to share this message of hope with the incredible people of North Carolina."
On the day that Roy Williams retired as the head coach of North Carolina, he departed Chapel Hill for the Asheville mountains, and he has been a fixture in the community since his retirement, displaying a connection with that part of the state, after nearly two decades with the University. Williams continues to represent the University in a first-class manner, while also serving his community like any local should. Coach Smith would be proud.
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