Roy Williams partners with Verizon on Helene relief announcement

Fans at Kenan Stadium cheered Saturday afternoon when Carolina basketball legend Roy Williams stepped on the field to make a life-changing announcement.

The hall of fame coach announced to the crowd that Verizon is erasing $5 million in consumer debt for thousands of North Carolinians affected by last year’s devastating Hurricane Helene. A video on the stadium scoreboard showed Williams informing families they would receive the company’s support.

The announcement followed Verizon’s initial commitment in January to clear $10 million in debt for 6,500 families across western North Carolina. Verizon partnered with ForgiveCo in both rounds of funding, bringing the company’s total debt relief for North Carolinians to $15 million.

A partner of UNC-Chapel Hill, Verizon teamed up with Williams to bring widespread attention to the ongoing recovery needs in western North Carolina. Williams delivered the news to fans during a heavyweight football matchup between the Tar Heels and Clemson University.

Roy Williams and Leigh Anne Lanier announced the relief at Carolina’s football game Oct. 4. (Verizon)

As a western North Carolina native himself, Williams has a personal stake in recovery efforts.

“A year ago, I saw firsthand how Hurricane Helene devastated such a large portion of our state,” Williams said. “People lost everything, and the path to recovery felt impossible. Verizon’s initial help was a blessing, but this second round of support demonstrates a level of commitment that is equally commendable. It gives people a new sense of hope and the chance to rebuild their lives and communities. I’m proud to be a part of this effort, and I want to thank Verizon for showing what it truly means to stand by neighbors in their time of need.”

Since Hurricane Helene struck North Carolina last September, Carolina has taken a lead role in recovery efforts across the state, providing on-the-ground assistance across disciplines, including economic recovery, access to health care, education, housing and more.

Through its strategic partnership with Carolina, Verizon contributes to those recovery efforts with its additional $5 million of debt relief.

The debt relief will be implemented by the public benefit corporation ForgiveCo, which purchases and cancels debt for people in need. The process will be automatic for recipients, who will be notified that their applicable debt has been cleared with no strings attached and no action required on their part.

“When we first announced our support in January, we made a promise that we would continue to stand with western North Carolina through its recovery. We are still here, and we are fulfilling that promise,” said Leigh Anne Lanier, Verizon Atlantic South market president.

“The path to rebuilding is a marathon, not a sprint. We hope that by lifting this financial burden, we can provide families with the breathing room they need to move forward and continue building a resilient future.”