Every so often something happens that makes us realize perhaps there are things greater than sports in the world. In the midst of the entertainment of sports, everyone must take time to acknowledge those who are suffering.

That time has come.

As most know, a disastrous earthquake hit Haiti on Jan. 12 and a series of aftershocks have followed. It has been reported that perhaps 200,000 people have died due to the catastrophe and many more are injured. Because of the lack of medical resources, many Haitian citizens may still die.

Let me acknowledge how impressive Americans have been in responding to the disaster that took place in the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, but more impressive have been America’s athletes that often get a bad rap.

Though America’s major sports leagues—the NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL—have all made donations on behalf of the leagues, some athletes have gone a step further.

Athletes including LeBron James, Pierre Garcon, Chris Paul and Lance Armstrong have all made personal donations.  Dwayne Wade and former Miami Heat star Alonzo Mourning have even set up a relief fund: The Athlete’s Relief Fund for Haiti. Roger Federer set up a “Hit for Haiti” fundraiser.

However, what may have been most surprising is how giving sport’s “troublemakers” have been. Among those are Michael Vick, Donte Stallworth and Miguel Tejada. Also included were two athletes with recent troubles: Gilbert Arenas, previously charged with gun possession, and Tiger Woods, who faced personal issues. Though Woods has been away from the spotlight since November, he reportedly gave $3 million to Haiti.

Because the media loves to shower these athletes with attention for their wrongdoings, it is time we give that same attention when they do positive things.

There are many people  suffering in Haiti. Many are now homeless. In a country where 50 percent of the population is under age 18, there were nearly 400,000 orphans before the quake, a number expected to double. There are many people here in America like Samuel Dalembert of the Philadelphia 76ers, Elvis Dumervil of the Denver Broncos, Cliff Avril of the Detroit Lions and boxer Andre Berto, who have relatives in Haiti that they have been unable to contact.

Now is the time we must come together to help those in need. This is no time for the divisions created by sports, politics, race, gender or education. As the late Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “Life’s most urgent question is:  What are you doing for others?”