By Dorothy J. Gentry
Sports Editor
SMU Quarterback Shane Buechele and his girlfriend, Paige Vasquez, decided to start a GoFundMe account so that they could give back to the City of Dallas, the place they call home.
Weeks later, the couple met their goal and recently delivered a check for $50,000 to Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson to be used for the Mayor’s Disaster Relief Fund for COVID-19.
Their GoFundMe account was created to help the city during this time of uncertainty. The pair felt that they could use their joined voices and rally the support needed to give back in this way.
“Dallas is home, I grew up here,” said SMU Quarterback Shane Buechele. “It’s been amazing to see how many people have sent in donations. Everyone wants to help and give back in some way and I’m glad they’re able to do that through the donation page Paige and I started.” Vasquez, the Corporate Communications and Events Coordinator for the Dallas Mavericks, cited her employer as a great role model for giving back.
“Working for the Mavs, I’ve had some pretty spectacular people to look up to like Mark Cuban and Cynt Marshall. Seeing them give back to our community really motivated Shane and I to do the same,” Vasquez said. “Shane and I realize how blessed we are to have the things we do like a job and food and realize that some people are not so fortunate, especially right now.
“We knew we needed to help and we’re so grateful for everyone that supported us throughout this process.”
The couple met Mayor Johnson at Fire Station #4 for the check presentation. The Mayor’s Disaster Relief Fund committee will meet to decide how the donation will be distributed to help those in need.
“I was impressed with Shane Buechele’s performance on the field last season for SMU, but I am far more impressed with his commitment to his community here in the city of Dallas,” said Mayor Johnson.
“Dallas is a resilient city. We will recover from COVID-19, and the funds raised by Shane and Paige will help us get there.”
The Mayor’s committee is chaired by businesswoman and former U.S. Ambassador Jeanne Phillips and includes UT-Southwestern Vice President for Community and Corporate Relations Ruben Esquivel, The Beck Group’s Executive Chairman Peter Beck, City Manager T.C. Broadnax, Mayor Johnson’s Chief of Staff Mary Elbanna, and Matthew Randazzo, the CEO and President of The Dallas Foundation.
