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

The NBA is delighted to declare the 10 candidates for the NBA Cares Community Assist Award for the 2020-21 Season, sponsored by Kaiser Permanente. All these players have demonstrated remarkable dedication to their communities, making a positive difference beyond the basketball court.

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

Below are the nominees.

DeAndre’ Bembry

Benefiting Charity: AP World

Since his NBA debut, DeAndre’ Bembry has committed himself to philanthropy. Following the tragic loss of his brother Adrien to gun violence just weeks before the 2016 NBA Draft, DeAndre’ established the AP World organization. This organization is devoted to promoting safer communities and providing families with the necessary resources to cope with and overcome grief.

Throughout the year, DeAndre’ has been actively involved with AP World, which includes providing Thanksgiving meals for families, partnering with Operation Warm for Children’s Aid in Toronto to give brand new coats to needy kids, and giving 500 pairs of brand-new shoes to the Boys & Girls Club Youth in Indianapolis in February, in collaboration with Shoes that Fit. Prior to the National Gun Violence Survivors week in the first week of February, Bembry joined a virtual roundtable discussion with an all-athletes panel, where he shared his story and advocated for gun safety.

In April, DeAndre’ joined a virtual school assembly for the Huddle Up Bullying Prevention Program in Toronto. The program aims to combat bullying, discrimination, and racism and foster a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion. It empowers students to take action. Bembry’s online presentation was viewed by thousands of young people at over 100 schools in Ontario. The goal was to demonstrate to students how to navigate through tough times and emerge more resilient.

Bembry is taking part in a Wear Orange virtual panel to share his family’s story on June 4, as a part of the 7th Annual National Gun Violence Awareness Day. His undeniable commitment to safety in the face of gun violence is inspiring. It’s remarkable to see how he has transformed a tragic event into a foundation that provides support to other families working through their grief.

Vote for DeAndre’ Bembry >>

Devin Booker

Benefiting Charity: Phoenix Suns Charities

Devin Booker, a guard for the Phoenix Suns, was honored with the NBA Cares Community Assist Award for May, presented by Kaiser Permanente. This was in acknowledgment of his ongoing dedication to helping young people and families in the wider Phoenix community.

During a Suns home game in May, Booker unexpectedly announced the 2020-21 class of the Devin Booker Starting Five initiative. This surprise announcement was made to five local nonprofits: Arizona Autism United, Central Arizona Shelter Services, YMCA of Southern Arizona, GAP Ministries, and Elevate Phoenix. Via an in-game, pre-recorded message, Booker revealed that each organization would receive a $100,000 grant from him. This funding aims to address the critical needs arising post-pandemic and support their respective endeavors to enhance the lives of local youth and families. Moreover, to celebrate and benefit the 2020-21 class, Booker in collaboration with Phoenix Suns Charities, launched a limited-edition Devin Booker Starting Five hoodie featuring the chosen nonprofits. All proceeds from the unique, Booker-designed hoodies, available for a limited period, will go to Phoenix Suns Charities.

The Devin Booker Starting Five initiative, which annually donates $500,000 to five different youth-centered nonprofits in Arizona, has named its second class of organizations. Over five years, this amounts to a total donation of $2.5 million. The first class of organizations, which included Special Olympics Arizona, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center, UMOM New Day Centers, and Ability 360, received their individual grants of $100,000 in late 2019. Beyond the Starting Five initiative, Booker has also significantly supported youth and families throughout the Valley through COVID-19 relief efforts and holiday shopping sprees. As a Special Olympics Global Ambassador, he fervently advocates for inclusion in sports.

Vote for Devin Booker >>

Joel Embiid

Benefiting Charity: Covenant House Pennsylvania

In March, Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid was recognized with the Community Assist Award. Following his fourth consecutive year as an NBA All-Star starter, Embiid furthered his initiatives to fight homelessness in Philadelphia by donating $100,000 to three local organizations: Youth Services Inc., Project HOME, and Sunday Breakfast Mission. In addition to this, he supplied 15,000 meals to the needy, 4,000 essential pieces of clothing, medical care for 1,000 individuals with housing issues, entry to a six-week summer camp for 50 homeless youth, and shelter for over 300 teenagers dealing with housing insecurity.

Embiid extended his aid to five families from the local community who were severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. He provided each family with gifts and clothing, groceries, and a year’s worth of rent relief.

Over the past year, Joel Embiid has concentrated a lot of his community work on COVID-19 relief. When the pandemic first hit, he partnered with 76ers Managing Partners Josh Harris and David Blitzer to donate $1.3 million to Penn Medicine for the development of antibody testing for frontline healthcare workers. Continually supporting healthcare workers, Embiid committed $500,000 to the #FirstRespondersFirst campaign. This initiative, run by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Thrive Global, and the CAA Foundation, aims to supply personal protective equipment to frontline workers.

Vote for Joel Embiid >>

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, jointly received the January NBA Cares Community Assist Award presented by Kaiser Permanente.

In November, after becoming a member of the Bucks, Jrue Holiday and his wife, Lauren, collaborated with the Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation. Their aim was to identify local small businesses — particularly those owned by women and Black individuals — that needed help the most. Having assessed numerous grant applications, the Holiday family announced in January that they would be funding seven local businesses. These include 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. These businesses, located in southeastern Wisconsin, offer a range of services such as assisted living, home healthcare, childcare, mental health and substance abuse services, hospitality, and more.

Holiday has also shown his dedication to helping communities that matter to him by making long-term commitments. This includes a pledge of his remaining 2020 NBA salary to establish The Jrue and Lauren Holiday Social Justice Fund. The fund is aimed at fighting systemic racism and promoting economic equality through financial support to Black-led organizations and businesses. Earlier this season, the fund declared its support for 25 non-profits and historical Black institutions, along with 23 Black-owned small businesses in Los Angeles, New Orleans, and Indianapolis.

Vote for Jrue Holiday >>

Damian Lillard

Benefiting Charity: Special Olympics Oregon

Damian Lillard, a guard for the Portland Trail Blazers, was honored with the April NBA Cares Community Assist Award by Kaiser Permanente. This award recognizes his ongoing initiatives to empower the youth of Portland.

Since settling in Portland in 2012, Lillard has dedicated himself to investing in and mentoring local high school students via his RESPECT program. This program uplifts, motivates, and celebrates students from three local high schools – McDaniel, Parkrose, and Roosevelt. In the wake of the global pandemic and the shift to virtual learning, RESPECT adapted to sustain student engagement. Lillard ensured continued contact with participants through video visits and used his social media platforms to spotlight students and teachers who represented the program’s values. As schools transitioned back to in-person learning, he supplied RESPECT-branded face masks for the program’s students and staff.

Lillard introduced a unique RESPECT edition of his Dame7 shoe, specifically for students in the program. The 500 pairs made included the school colors of McDaniel, Parkrose, and Roosevelt and highlighted the three RESPECT tenets: Show Up, Work Hard, and Be Kind. Lillard distributed the shoes to RESPECT’s associate schools to acknowledge students demonstrating these principles and also sported the sneakers multiple times throughout the season. Besides RESPECT, he kept up his ambassadorship for the Moda Assist Program, a collaboration with Moda Health and the Trail Blazers, that contributes $20 for every assist during the season to fund the creation of playgrounds suitable for all abilities across Oregon. This year, Astoria has been chosen to receive funds for the construction of an all-abilities playground, thereby improving their community.

Vote for Damian Lillard >>

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 inaugural Indigenous Community Basketball League (ICBL) was launched by Indigenous Basketball Australia, a venture established by Mills to offer Aboriginal Australians the opportunity to play basketball. The league, designed for players aged 14 and under, took place in eight locations across the country. The tournaments not only enhance and honor Indigenous cultural practices but also concentrate on basketball development and the education of life skills. This includes mental and physical health, as well as fostering personal identity at a crucial age. Mills also teamed up with the NBA and the Jr. NBA to launch the National Indigenous Basketball Tournament (NIBT) which is set to take place on the Gold Coast in Queensland from April 11-13. The tournament will offer 48 boys and girls additional development opportunities both on and off the court.

Mills has committed a significant portion of his professional career in the United States to supporting Australia, especially Indigenous youth and communities of color. In 2020, he donated his remaining 2019-20 season earnings to organizations championing social justice, and was instrumental in the launch of the ‘We Got You’ campaign. Alongside other prominent Australian athletes, this campaign aimed to eradicate racism, exclusion, and discrimination in sports. Furthermore, Mills orchestrated a $750,000 donation from nine Australian NBA players following the severe Australian bushfires earlier that year.

Vote for Patty Mills >>

Donovan Mitchell

Benefiting Charity: Children’s Village

Donovan Mitchell, a guard for the Utah Jazz, was honored with the Offseason NBA Cares Community Assist Award by Kaiser Permanente. This award recognized his ongoing work to promote social justice and advocate for education during the 2019-20 and 2020-21 NBA seasons.

In December, the Mitchell family made a historical donation of $12 million to Greenwich Country Day School, the alma mater of Donovan and Jordan Mitchell, and the workplace of their mother, Nicole, for over a decade. This marks the most significant single donation the school has ever received. The funds will be utilized to establish the Mitchell Family Scholarship Fund, which will assist students from pre-K through 12th grade. Additionally, the Nicole Mitchell Faculty Support Fund will be created to help teachers who share Nicole’s fervor for teaching. The donation will also contribute to the new D.O.N.! The Determination Over Negativity Mitchell Family Athletic Center. Over the summer, Mitchell also contributed the profits from his Adidas D.O.N. Issue #2 sneakers to the education of Jacob Blake’s children, University of Louisville’s students of color, and teachers at preschools in Connecticut and the Bronx. The total sum for these scholarships and academic assistance exceeded $300,000.

Mitchell persisted in his outspoken stand against racial inequality even after the restart of the 2019-20 NBA season. He took part in an off-season discussion on educational, economic, and social disparities with Senator Kamala Harris (then a vice-presidential candidate), Portland’s CJ McCollum, and Philadelphia’s Tobias Harris. On top of this, Mitchell earned a place on the first board of the National Basketball Social Justice Coalition. This organization aims to use the influence of the sport to raise awareness, educate, and push for significant reform. Additionally, through his SPIDACARES organization, Mitchell regularly offers assistance to those who are most in need.

Vote for Donovan Mitchell  >>

Larry Nance Jr.

Benefiting Charity: Athletes vs. Chron’s

Northeast Ohio native, Larry Nance Jr., is recognized as a local basketball and community hero. In response to the severe effect of COVID-19 on small businesses, he pledged to use each regular season game to uplift chosen local businesses. He achieves this by donating the entire auction proceeds from his game-worn jerseys. Larry, together with the Cavs, match these proceeds, thereby tripling the donation each small business receives.

Larry’s social media challenge resulted in hundreds of packages from local businesses keen to be highlighted during his pregame walk-up. Furthermore, the Cavs FieldHouse Creative Team conducts post-game interviews with small business owners, which are then featured on Cavs’ digital platforms. This provides fans with a deeper understanding of the businesses and broadens their exposure across the Northeast Ohio community.

Larry managed to raise over $222k, providing significant exposure to 72 deserving small businesses as the Cavs season ended. Westfield, a corporate partner of the Cavs, matched Larry’s jersey auction proceeds with a further $100K donation to the Urban League of Greater Cleveland and Akron Urban League. Both organizations focus on supporting minority-owned businesses. Furthermore, Larry established the Athletes vs Chron’s and Colitis foundation in 2017, focusing on raising disease awareness among teenagers, and encouraging children to pursue their athletic dreams 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.

Vote for Larry Nance Jr. >>

Josh Richardson

Benefiting Charity: Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors

Shortly before the commencement of the 2020-21 season, Richardson joined the Mavericks and immediately endeavored to influence the greater Dallas area. He surprised numerous frontline healthcare workers from UT Southwestern Medical Center by gifting them Reebok sneakers and team merchandise, along with a surprise video message expressing gratitude for their continuous efforts in safeguarding the community. In addition, he also visited a first-grade class at the Dallas Independent School District as a guest reader, where he surprised the students and encouraged them to value reading and education amidst the unique challenges of the academic year.

Richardson, being the son of an Air Force servicewoman, has maintained his involvement with the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors. This program offers support, care, and resources to those mourning the loss of a servicemember. Over the years, he has built a strong bond with his mentee, Elijah, through the program. During the festive season, he gifted over 20 families, who have also experienced the loss of a servicemember, with presents.

Vote for Josh Richardson >>

Russell Westbrook

Benefiting Charity: Russell Westbrook Why Not? Foundation

Russell Westbrook continues to make a lasting impact in the communities where he lives and plays. As he settles into a new team market, Westbrook has collaborated with the LA Promise Fund to establish the Russell Westbrook Why Not? Academy in his hometown of Los Angeles. The academy caters to middle and high school students, aiming to provide better access to education and outdoor opportunities for children and the wider community in south Los Angeles. In 2012, Westbrook founded The Why Not? Foundation. The foundation’s ultimate goal is to provide services to at-risk populations, including education, mental health resources, and workforce tools, and to inspire young people to think creatively, chase their dreams, and never give up despite facing obstacles. In November, Westbrook and his foundation teamed up with the L.A. Regional Food Bank to distribute Thanksgiving meals for the ninth consecutive year to Los Angeles residents.

In December, Russell organized a unique Christmas sneaker giveaway for all students at The Children’s Guild District of Columbia Public Charter School, a school that caters to many students from homeless or unstable housing situations. In February, he partnered with Varo Bank as an advisor, aiming to address income disparities by implementing programs to enhance financial literacy within the minority community. Alongside his direct community involvement, Westbrook has also made efforts to educate communities about the various injustices endured by Black people in America throughout history.

In April, Russell announced he was producing a documentary on the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, an event frequently neglected and uncharted in American history. The documentary is set to premiere on May 30.

Vote for Russell Westbrook >>