Cardinals to raise funds for tornado victims

SAN DIEGO -- The Cardinals, along with Relevent Sports, announced on Wednesday that they will donate a dollar from every ticket sold for Thursday's soccer match at Busch Stadium to a Cardinals Care fund established to assist children affected by Monday's tornado in Moore, Okla.

Chelsea Football Club and Manchester City Football club, who will meet in the soccer match on Thursday, have also each agreed to match the donation. Players from both clubs will wear commemorative black arm bands as a tribute to the tornado victims.

"We have all been moved by the heartbreaking images and stories coming out of Oklahoma," Cardinals president Bill DeWitt said in a statement. "Cardinals Care has established a special fund to help the many children whose lives have been forever changed by tragedy."

Members of the St. Louis Fire Department will be at Busch Stadium on Thursday collecting monetary donations for fans who want to donate to the Cardinals Care Oklahoma Recovery Fund. The Cardinals are also accepting online donations at cardinals.com/Oklahoma. Cardinals Care will utilize all monies raised to invest in youth-related needs in Moore over the next several months.

Collection bins will be set up outside Gate One at the Tums Parking Lot on Thursday for people to donate batteries, building supplies, small hand tools, baby formula and pet food. The American Red Cross will also be soliciting donations for the relief effort.