Real Salt Lake midfielder from Haiti OK

Real Salt Lake officials received word Thursday morning from Haitian-born midfielder Jean Alexandre that he is alive and safe.

RSL GM Garth Lagerwey said during a conference call with reporters on Wednesday that the club had no reason to believe that Alexandre, who moved to the United States when he was nine, was in Haiti at the time his native country suffered a devastating earthquake. However, the club didn't receive confirmation that Alexandre was OK until he sent an email to them from Argentina Thursday morning.

While Alexandre is safe, though, the 23-year-old midfielder is still trying to find out about his father and aunt, both of whom were in Haiti during the earthquake.

"Please keep Haiti in your prayers and my family thank you," Alendandre wrote on Facebook.

Alexandre was drafted 12th overall by Real Salt Lake in last year's MLS SuperDraft and made four league appearances for the club during his rookie season.

KUTV announced Thursday afternoon it will be holding, in conjunction with several other local companies, a telethon fundraiser with the Red Cross on Friday from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

RSL stars Andy Williams and Raphael Cox are scheduled to participate in the telethon.

e-mail: drasmussen@desnews.com