BREAKING: Ryan Day and wife donated $2,5 million to support the victims and assist in the search and rescue efforts for the missing people in the devastating flash floods in Texas.

In a powerful act of generosity and humanity, Ohio State head football coach Ryan Day and his wife Christina have donated $2.5 million to support the victims of the devastating flash floods that have swept across central and southeastern Texas. The donation—one of the largest personal contributions made to the relief efforts so far—will go toward both immediate humanitarian needs and critical search and rescue operations as emergency crews continue working around the clock to find the missing and support displaced families.

The gift from the Day family comes amid one of the worst flood disasters in recent Texas history. Over the past week, torrential rains have submerged entire neighborhoods, damaged infrastructure, and forced thousands to flee their homes. Rising rivers and overwhelmed drainage systems have turned roads into rivers and parks into lakes. Dozens of people are confirmed dead, with scores still missing. Rescue teams, many working in treacherous conditions, are stretched thin and racing against time as forecasts call for continued rain in some areas.

Speaking through a statement issued early Wednesday morning, the Day family emphasized their heartbreak at the devastation and their desire to take meaningful action in support of those affected.

“Texas holds a special place in our hearts,” the statement read. “We have friends, players, and coaching colleagues who call Texas home. When we saw the images coming out of Houston, San Marcos, and College Station, we knew we couldn’t just sit back. This donation is meant to help ease the suffering, support search and rescue, and send a message to every family and first responder down there—you are not alone.”

The donation will be administered through a partnership between the American Red Cross, Team Rubicon (a veteran-led disaster response organization), and local non-profits on the ground in affected Texas counties. Funds will be allocated to provide emergency housing, food, medical aid, equipment for first responders, and logistical support for ongoing rescue missions.

A portion of the donation will also establish the Day Family Emergency Relief Grant—aimed at giving direct cash assistance to families who lost homes or loved ones in the floods.

For those who have followed Ryan and Christina Day’s philanthropic work, the $2.5 million donation, while extraordinary in scope, is not entirely surprising. The couple has long been involved in community causes, especially those centered on mental health, crisis support, and children’s well-being. In 2020, they launched the Christina and Ryan Day Fund for Pediatric and Adolescent Mental Wellness at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, committing millions to address the youth mental health crisis.

But this time, the Day family was moved to action by the sheer scale of human suffering in Texas. What began as a quiet donation behind the scenes soon became public after a spokesperson for the Red Cross praised the “unprecedented generosity” of the Day family and the impact their contribution would have on the unfolding emergency.

“We are truly humbled by Ryan and Christina Day’s compassion,” said Angela Finley, Regional CEO for the Red Cross of Central and South Texas. “At a time when every minute, every resource, and every act of kindness counts, this donation allows us to deploy additional rescue teams, secure critical equipment, and bring immediate relief to thousands of Texans. It’s not just a gift—it’s a lifeline.”

The news of the donation quickly spread across social media, with athletes, coaches, and fans from all corners of the country applauding the couple for their leadership in a time of crisis. Numerous Ohio State players, both past and present, took to Twitter and Instagram to praise their coach’s generosity.

CJ Stroud, now with the Houston Texans, posted:

“This is why Coach Day is more than a football coach. That’s real love. Texas thanks you.”

Other prominent figures, including Big Ten rivals, joined in expressing admiration, with Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh commenting:

“In times like this, competition takes a back seat. What Ryan and Christina have done is extraordinary. We stand with Texas too.”

The flooding in Texas has had catastrophic consequences. As of Wednesday morning, at least 37 people have been confirmed dead across the affected counties, with more than 70 reported missing. Entire communities along the Brazos, Guadalupe, and Colorado Rivers have been left underwater, with several towns cut off due to impassable roads.

Rescue crews are using boats, helicopters, and drones to search for stranded individuals, many of whom are elderly or have limited mobility. In Austin, over 12 inches of rain fell in a 48-hour span, flooding homes, hospitals, and schools. In rural counties like Caldwell and Bastrop, overwhelmed infrastructure has left first responders pleading for additional resources and volunteers.

Local shelters are bursting at the seams, with evacuees sleeping in makeshift beds, cots, and even high school gyms. Food and clean water supplies remain stretched thin.

One of the most harrowing scenes came out of San Marcos, where a retirement home had to be evacuated by boat as rising waters inundated the first floor. At least three residents remain unaccounted for.

“We’ve seen devastation before, but this—this is unlike anything I’ve seen in 20 years,” said Chief Marcus Alvarado, a firefighter in Bexar County. “We need help. That donation from Coach Day—there are no words. That’s going to save lives.”

While Ryan Day has never coached in Texas, his connection to the state runs deeper than the coaching carousel. Several of his former players at Ohio State hail from Texas, and Day has long spoken about the pride and discipline that players from the Lone Star State bring to the game.

In addition, the Day family has close ties to coaches with Texas roots, including Tom Herman, Urban Meyer, and Steve Sarkisian. Over the past five years, Christina Day has also worked quietly with child welfare and education organizations in the region through a private family foundation.

“Our family believes in standing with communities in their darkest hours,” Christina Day said in a follow-up video released via social media. “We may live in Ohio, but we’re part of a bigger community—the human community. And right now, Texas is hurting. If we can help, we must.”

The Day family emphasized that their donation is not meant to be a grand gesture, but a call to action. In the statement, they encouraged others to give what they can—whether time, money, or resources.

“We know not everyone can give millions. But every act of kindness matters. Whether it’s checking in on your neighbors, donating blood, or sending a case of water to a shelter—it all makes a difference.”

While the Day family’s donation is making headlines in the sports world, it is being equally felt in the broader emergency response community. FEMA officials have already noted that private donations are making the difference between life and death in some of the more isolated areas.

The timing is critical. Weather forecasts predict more storms in the coming days, potentially worsening an already dire situation. The $2.5 million will be used, in part, to pre-stage rescue boats and medical supplies in flood-prone regions, according to Red Cross officials.

Team Rubicon has announced that it will deploy an additional 400 volunteers with military and emergency training to assist local authorities—funded directly through the Days’ donation. The first wave of deployments began Tuesday night, and operations are expected to scale up rapidly.

“This is how we fight back against disaster,” said Emily Lozano, Team Rubicon’s regional director. “With boots on the ground, coordinated strategy, and the backing of people like Coach Day who believe in service above self.”

As the situation in Texas continues to evolve, the Day family hopes their donation will inspire more attention to the long road of recovery ahead. Beyond search and rescue, the funds will help support long-term rebuilding, trauma counseling, and displaced children’s education.

Several other athletes and public figures have reached out to join the effort. According to reports, the Ohio State athletic department is coordinating a university-wide relief initiative to be announced later this week, and the Big Ten Conference is considering a joint effort with the SEC to raise funds for flood victims across the affected Southern states.

Ryan Day, whose team will begin fall practice in just a few weeks, kept the focus squarely on those affected.

“We’re praying for Texas,” he said. “This isn’t about football. It’s about doing what’s right. If our donation can bring even a sliver of hope, then it’s worth every penny.”

In times of tragedy, leaders emerge not only through words, but through action. Ryan and Christina Day’s $2.5 million donation is more than a headline—it’s a symbol of solidarity, a lifeline for those clinging to hope, and a call for empathy in a divided world.

As floodwaters slowly recede in Texas, stories like this shine as a reminder of what binds us together—our willingness to help each other, even across state lines, even across football rivalries.

This isn’t just a sports story. This is a human story. And for many Texans tonight, it’s a life-saving one.