Tina Charles’ legacy not only lies in her on-court dominance but her community work. Last month, Charles received the Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award, “recognizing her extraordinary commitment to service, social justice, and creating lasting impact in the communities she serves.” Charles now finds herself amid a crisis, where her on-the-ground community work is urgently needed.

Charles’ mother, Angela, hails from Jamaica. It is the island nation where Hurricane Melissa struck Tuesday with top sustained winds of 185 mph. Tina Charles was visiting family when Melissa struck the island, leading to flight cancellations and an extended stay during the storm’s aftermath. Charles appeared on CBS Mornings and said she plans to help however she can in the precarious condition. 

“This country that I call my second home, you know, there’s a lot of devastation, about three quarters of the island is devastated, underwater, especially on the western side, communications have been crippled, you know, there’s families that lost their home, everything that they have, especially in St. Elizabeth, that parish, it’s very gut-wrenching, it’s very, leaves me emotional, and I plan to do anything that I can to help Jamaica,” Charles said. 

She also explained her further plans to eventually return to the US. “Well, right now, my priority is to get to Ansem City, get to my mother, and get to my grandmother’s house, because my mother is on that same flight with me, and I’m not going to leave without her.” The WNBA Community was quick to offer prayers for Tina Charles and others in the country.

Tina Charles Grim Update Unites WNBA Community In Support 

“Sending thoughts of love and prayers of safety to Tina and everyone in Jamaica as they weather this horrific storm.” Wrote Myles Ehrlich, a senior reporter at Windsr. According to Jamaica’s education minister, Dana Morris Dixon, around 77% of Jamaica was without electricity on Wednesday morning. The situation is precarious in Tina Charles’ second home, and the country needs all the help they can get. 

Another fan wrote in a similar sentiment, “Praying for her safety and the safety of everyone in the hurricane’s path.” Fortunately for Tina Charles’ family and the country, the worst of the hurricane has passed, but it has still left lasting damage. “Thank you so much, Tina, for talking about this and uplifting the Jamaican people. ❤️” wrote a fan. In her segment with CBS, Charles also called on international committees to help the country. 

“Right now it’s just how can we help, you know, category five, as the prime minister mentioned, you know, it’s going to take international commitment and help get this country back to thriving and where it was, so really praying and hoping that other international communities and countries can come together and help relieve Jamaica and get it back to the beautiful thriving place that it is,” Charles said.

Tina Charles did not directly call WNBA fans to donate, but the fans are ready to contribute regardless. “Can we, the Sun fans, do something to help?” Asked one fan. Charles hasn’t yet released a list of NGO’s fans can donate to. Her Hopey’s Heart Foundation, which provides automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and heart-safety education to schools, teams, and community sites, could help. 

“Hope people can make a difference financially for Jamaica, as you have made a difference for your fans at the WNBA. Thank you, Tina.” Wrote another fan. Apart from her work with her foundation, Charles has time and again spoken out on the important issues in the WNBA and the US. 

In 2012, she donated $32,000 to build a school in Ganale, a village in Mali in western Africa. She has also donated 5,000 pairs of athletic shoes to students at St. Jago High in Jamaica. Charles’ grandmother, whom she was visiting, Naomi Holgate, had been the principal of Holgate Primary Basic School. It’s clear Charles has impacted people in the US and internationally. Charles will no doubt keep playing a key role in bringing new life to the Jamaican community.