FRISCO, Texas - FC Dallas midfielder Tanner Tessmann stepped up in a big way this week to help the North Texas community affected by the recent winter storms that have left many without power or running water.
Tessmann and his teammates set up a GoFundMe page to help with the ongoing relief efforts throughout the state.
"People are suffering so whatever we can do to help out – whether that’s food or anything – it helps the community and that’s how we want to use our platform," Tessmann said. “I think about what I have, my apartment complex has been able keep the power running and I have warm water. I know people that maybe don’t have power every hour or at all and they don’t have hot water or anything. That’s really tough to see."
Like many in Texas, some FC Dallas players have been learning how to deal with subfreezing temperatures with little or no power in their homes. Goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer and his family were left without power for the past few days and resorted to "camping" around their fireplace to keep warm throughout the night.
"It’s tough to see one of your brothers having to go through something like that," Tessmann said. "Jimmy's dealt with it really well and knows he doesn’t have it the worst actually because he has a fireplace. It’s tough seeing people that I know not having power and not having warm water and struggling to go find food. It’s tough seeing your teammate go through that and not really be able to do anything cause we can’t go drive there."
FC Dallas President Dan Hunt also stepped up with a $5,000 donation to Tessmann's fundraiser in support of his player and the North Texas community at large.
"It’s awesome and it’s exactly what we need," Tessmann said of Hunt's donation. "We need people from the top to support us and our community so it’s amazing to see an owner so involved with the team and so involved with the community. We say it all the time that FC Dallas is a family, and it starts from the top."
