Vote for the 2020-21 NBA Cares Seasonlong Community Assist Award

The NBA happily declares the 10 candidates up for the NBA Cares Community Assist Award for the 2020-21 Season, sponsored by Kaiser Permanente. Each player has demonstrated remarkable dedication to their community, making substantial positive changes beyond the basketball court.

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Below are the nominees.

DeAndre’ Bembry

Benefiting Charity: AP World

Since his early days in the NBA, DeAndre’ Bembry has been committed to philanthropic endeavors. He founded the AP World organization in memory of his brother Adrien, who tragically lost his life due to gun violence just weeks before the 2016 NBA Draft. The organization is committed to the creation of safer communities and provides resources to help families manage and overcome grief.

Throughout the year, DeAndre’ has been engaged with AP World, participating in various philanthropic activities. These include distributing Thanksgiving meals to families, collaborating with Operation Warm to provide new coats to needy children for Children’s Aid in Toronto, and offering 500 pairs of brand-new shoes to the Boys & Girls Club Youth in Indianapolis in February, in conjunction with Shoes that Fit. Furthermore, Bembry joined a virtual roundtable discussion composed of athletes to share his experiences and promote gun safety, ahead of National Gun Violence Survivors Week, which takes place in the first week of February.

In April, DeAndre’ took part in a virtual assembly for Toronto’s Huddle Up Bullying Prevention Program. This program aims to combat bullying, discrimination, and racism by fostering an environment of equality, diversity, and inclusion. It also strives to empower students to take action. Bembry’s virtual speech was streamed to thousands of young people in 100 schools across Ontario. The goal was to demonstrate to students how they can rise above tough times and emerge stronger.

Bembry is taking part in a Wear Orange virtual panel as a component of the 7th Annual National Gun Violence Awareness Day on June 4. He will share his family’s story during this event. Bembry’s dedication to safety in response to gun violence is compelling and inspiring, particularly in the way he has transformed a devastating incident into a foundation that assists other families dealing with grief.

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Devin Booker

Benefiting Charity: Phoenix Suns Charities

Devin Booker, a guard for the Phoenix Suns, was awarded the May NBA Cares Community Assist Award by Kaiser Permanente. This was in acknowledgment of his ongoing dedication to assisting youth and families in the larger Phoenix area.

In May, at a Suns home game, Booker surprised five local nonprofits by announcing them as the 2020-21 Devin Booker Starting Five initiative class. The announcement was made through a pre-recorded in-game address. The organizations – Arizona Autism United, Central Arizona Shelter Services, YMCA of Southern Arizona, GAP Ministries, and Elevate Phoenix – each received a $100,000 grant from Booker. These funds will address critical post-pandemic needs and aid in improving the lives of local families and youth. A limited-edition Devin Booker Starting Five hoodie was also created by Booker and Phoenix Suns Charities in further celebration of the 2020-21 class. The unique hoodies, designed by Booker, were available for purchase for a limited time, with all proceeds going to Phoenix Suns Charities.

The Devin Booker Starting Five initiative, which annually donates $500,000 across five youth-serving nonprofits in Arizona, has classified these five organizations as its second class. Over a five-year period, this results in a total donation of $2.5 million. The first class of organizations – Special Olympics Arizona, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center, UMOM New Day Centers, and Ability 360 – received their $100,000 grants at the end of 2019. Aside from the Starting Five initiative, Booker has also supported youth and families across the Valley through COVID-19 relief efforts and holiday shopping sprees. He is not only a Special Olympics Global Ambassador, but also actively advocates for inclusion in sports.

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Joel Embiid

Benefiting Charity: Covenant House Pennsylvania

In March, Joel Embiid, the center for the Philadelphia 76ers, was recognized with the Community Assist Award. Following his fourth successive designation as an NBA All-Star starter that same month, Embiid made a generous donation of $100,000 to three local organizations in Philadelphia dedicated to tackling homelessness. These included Youth Services Inc., Project HOME, and Sunday Breakfast Mission. In addition to his financial contribution, Embiid also supplied 15,000 meals to the needy, 4,000 essential clothing items, medical aid for 1,000 individuals struggling with housing security, and a six-week summer camp for 50 homeless young people. He also provided shelter for over 300 teenagers grappling with housing instability.

Embiid lent his support to local community members by helping five families severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. He provided each family with gifts, clothing, groceries, and a year’s worth of rent relief.

Embiid has primarily focused his community efforts on COVID-19 relief over the past year. When the pandemic first struck, he partnered with 76ers Managing Partners Josh Harris and David Blitzer to give $1.3 million to Penn Medicine for the development of antibody testing for frontline healthcare workers. To further support these workers, Embiid promised $500,000 through the #FirstRespondersFirst campaign. This campaign, a joint initiative of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Thrive Global, and the CAA Foundation, aims to supply PPE to those on the frontline.

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Jrue Holiday

Benefiting Charity: The Jrue and Lauren Holiday Social Impact Fund

Jrue Holiday, guard for the Milwaukee Bucks, and Josh Richardson, guard for the Dallas Mavericks, co-received the January NBA Cares Community Assist Award presented by Kaiser Permanente.

In November, Jrue and his wife, Lauren, joined the Bucks and collaborated with the Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation to identify small businesses most in need of assistance, specifically those owned by women and Black individuals. After evaluating grant applications, the Holiday family disclosed in January they would be funding seven local businesses. These businesses are Amri Counseling Services, Carter’s Quality Care, Hands at Home, Jamaican Season Island Restaurant, Kid’s Kingdom, Legacy Home Health Services, and The SW Retreat. They offer a range of services in southeastern Wisconsin, such as assisted living, home health, childcare, mental health and substance abuse services, hospitality, and more.

Holiday has shown a dedicated commitment to aiding communities close to his heart, as evidenced by his promise to use the rest of his 2020 NBA earnings to establish The Jrue and Lauren Holiday Social Justice Fund. The mission of this fund is to fight systemic racism and promote economic equality by offering financial assistance and support to Black-led organizations and businesses. In the early part of the season, the fund declared its support for 25 non-profits and historically Black institutions, along with 23 Black-owned small businesses based in Los Angeles, New Orleans, and Indianapolis.

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Damian Lillard

Benefiting Charity: Special Olympics Oregon

Damian Lillard, guard for the Portland Trail Blazers, was awarded the April NBA Cares Community Assist Award by Kaiser Permanente. This recognition was for his ongoing work in empowering the youth of Portland.

Since his arrival in Portland in 2012, Lillard has dedicated his time and resources to mentor and invest in local high school students through his RESPECT program, which is beneficial to three Portland-area high schools, namely McDaniel, Parkrose, and Roosevelt. During the global pandemic and the shift to virtual learning, the RESPECT program adapted to maintain engagement with students. Lillard used video calls to stay in touch with the participants remotely and spotlighted students and teachers who embodied the program’s principles on his social media channels. With schools resuming in-person learning, he supplied RESPECT-branded face masks to program participants, including students and staff.

A special RESPECT edition of Lillard’s signature Dame7 shoe was unveiled exclusively for students in the program. Incorporating the colors of McDaniel, Parkrose, and Roosevelt schools, 500 pairs were produced. These shoes highlighted the three RESPECT principles: Show Up, Work Hard, and Be Kind. Lillard distributed these shoes to RESPECT’s affiliated schools as a reward for students who embody these principles. He also wore the sneakers several times during the season. Besides RESPECT, Lillard maintained his ambassador role for the Moda Assist Program, a partnership with Moda Health and the Trail Blazers. This program donates $20 for each assist made during the season to fund the construction of inclusive playgrounds for all abilities across Oregon. This year, Astoria has been chosen to receive funds to aid in the construction of an all-inclusive playground, enhancing their community.

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Patty Mills

Benefiting Charity: Urban Indigenous Health

San Antonio Spurs guard Patty Mills took home the February NBA Cares Community Assist Award presented by Kaiser Permanente in recognition of his continued efforts to create opportunities that empower Indigenous young people and advance social justice in his native Australia.

In February, the Indigenous Community Basketball League (ICBL), a first-of-its-kind initiative by Indigenous Basketball Australia, was launched in eight areas across Australia for players aged 14 and under. Founded by Mills, the organisation aims to create opportunities for Aboriginal Australians in basketball. The ICBL tournaments emphasize basketball development, life skills education, mental and physical well-being, and strengthening individual identity in a culturally significant fashion. Moreover, Mills collaborated with the NBA and the Jr. NBA to introduce the National Indigenous Basketball Tournament (NIBT) at Queensland’s Gold Coast from April 11-13. This will provide 48 boys and girls with further basketball development and off-court opportunities.

Much of Mills’ professional career in the United States has been committed to contributing to Australia, with an emphasis on empowering Indigenous youth and communities of color. He donated the rest of his 2019-20 season salary to social justice organizations in 2020 and was instrumental in launching the ‘We Got You’ campaign, a collaborative effort with other renowned Australian athletes to eradicate sports-related racism, exclusion, and discrimination. Furthermore, following the disastrous Australian bushfires earlier that year, Mills orchestrated a $750,000 donation from nine Australian NBA players.

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Donovan Mitchell

Benefiting Charity: Children’s Village

Between the 2019-20 and 2020-21 NBA seasons, Donovan Mitchell, a guard for the Utah Jazz, was awarded the Offseason NBA Cares Community Assist Award. This award, presented by Kaiser Permanente, recognized his ongoing work in promoting social justice and advocating for education.

In December, the Mitchell family made a record-breaking donation of $12 million to Greenwich Country Day School, the alma mater of Donovan and Jordan Mitchell, and the place where their mother, Nicole, taught for over ten years. The money will be used to establish the Mitchell Family Scholarship Fund, benefiting students from pre-K to 12th grade. It will also fund the Nicole Mitchell Faculty Support Fund, designed to aid teachers who exhibit the same dedication to teaching as Nicole. Furthermore, the donation will support the creation of the D.O.N.! The Determination Over Negativity Mitchell Family Athletic Center. Mitchell also donated the profits from his Adidas D.O.N. Issue #2 sneakers this past summer. The proceeds, exceeding $300,000, were used to fund scholarships and educational assistance for Jacob Blake’s children, University of Louisville’s students of color, and teachers at preschools in Connecticut and the Bronx.

Mitchell maintained his steadfast commitment to address racial injustice, which was evident during the 2019-20 NBA season restart. He extended this conversation into the offseason, teaming up with then vice-presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris, CJ McCollum from Portland, and Tobias Harris from Philadelphia to discuss educational, economic, and social inequalities. Mitchell also earned a place on the first board of the National Basketball Social Justice Coalition. This coalition aims to use the influence of basketball to raise awareness, educate, and advocate for significant reforms. Additionally, Mitchell consistently supports those in dire need through his SPIDACARES organization.

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Larry Nance Jr.

Benefiting Charity: Athletes vs. Chron’s

Larry Nance Jr., a basketball and community star from Northeast Ohio, has taken steps to counteract the severe effects of COVID-19 on small businesses. He pledged to use each regular season game to support pre-chosen local businesses by donating all the profits from the auction of his game-worn jerseys. Both Larry and the Cavaliers match these profits, which triples the donation each small business receives.

Larry’s social media challenge resulted in receiving hundreds of packages from local businesses eager to be showcased during his pregame walk-up. The Cavs FieldHouse Creative Team also conducts post-game interviews with the small business owners, which are featured on Cavs’ digital platforms. This offers fans a more detailed insight into the businesses and further highlights their story to the Northeast Ohio community.

Larry successfully raised over $222k and significantly increased visibility for 72 deserving small businesses as the Cavs season ended. The Cavaliers’ corporate ally, Westfield, matched Larry’s jersey auction earnings with an additional $100K donation. This contribution benefited the Urban League of Greater Cleveland and the Akron Urban League, which both aid minority-owned businesses. In a separate venture in 2017, Larry established the Athletes vs Chron’s and Colitis foundation. This foundation strives to heighten awareness of both diseases among adolescents and help children attain their athletic aspirations despite their diagnoses.

Throughout the pandemic, Larry utilized his platform to talk about the mental and physical effects of COVID-19 on individuals with pre-existing auto-immune conditions.

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Josh Richardson

Benefiting Charity: Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors

Shortly before the 2020-21 season kicked off, Richardson joined the Mavericks and promptly made efforts to have a positive impact in the wider Dallas area. He surprised several frontline healthcare workers from UT Southwestern Medical Center with gifts of Reebok sneakers, team merchandise, and a video message expressing gratitude for their continuous efforts in safeguarding the community. Furthering his community outreach, Richardson visited a first-grade class in the Dallas Independent School District as a guest reader, surprising the kids and inspiring them to appreciate reading and education, despite the unique challenges faced during this school year.

Richardson, the son of an Air Force servicewoman, has maintained his involvement with the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors. This program offers support and resources to those mourning the loss of a servicemember. Over the years, he has built a strong bond with his mentee, Elijah, via the program. In the holiday season, he generously gifted over 20 families, who have also experienced the loss of a loved one in service.

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Russell Westbrook

Benefiting Charity: Russell Westbrook Why Not? Foundation

Russell Westbrook continues to impact the communities he resides and plays in positively. In his recent move to a new team market, he collaborated with the LA Promise Fund to start the Russell Westbrook Why Not? Academy in his Los Angeles hometown. The academy serves middle to high school students, providing better access to education and outdoor activities in South Los Angeles. In 2012, Westbrook established The Why Not? Foundation aimed at providing services to at-risk individuals, including education, mental health resources, and workforce skills. It also encourages young people to be creative, chase their dreams, and never give up, regardless of their circumstances. In November, Westbrook and his foundation, for the ninth consecutive year, partnered with the L.A. Regional Food Bank to distribute Thanksgiving meals to Los Angeles residents.

In December, Russell orchestrated a unique Christmas sneaker giveaway for all students at The Children’s Guild District of Columbia Public Charter School, a school that caters predominantly to students hailing from homeless or unstable living situations. In February, he partnered with Varo Bank in an advisory capacity to combat income disparities by promoting financial literacy programs within minority communities. Furthermore, Westbrook is not only directly involved in community outreach but also proactively educates communities about the longstanding inequities faced by Black people in America throughout history.

In April, Russell announced that he was producing a documentary on the often overlooked and untaught event in American history, the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. The documentary is set to debut on May 30.

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