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

The NBA is delighted to reveal the 10 candidates 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 and has made a substantial positive difference outside of the basketball court.

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Below are the nominees.

DeAndre’ Bembry

Benefiting Charity: AP World

Since his NBA career inception, DeAndre’ Bembry has been committed to philanthropic activities. He established the AP World organization in memory of his brother Adrien, who tragically lost his life to gun violence just before the 2016 NBA Draft. The organization is committed to fostering safer communities and offering resources to families for grief management and recovery.

Throughout the year, DeAndre’ has been actively involved with AP World, contributing to various charitable acts. These include providing Thanksgiving meals for families, partnering with Operation Warm for Children’s Aid in Toronto to distribute new coats to children in need, and donating 500 pairs of brand-new shoes to the Boys & Girls Club Youth in Indianapolis in February, in collaboration with Shoes that Fit. In addition, ahead of National Gun Violence Survivors week in early February, Bembry took part in a virtual roundtable discussion with an all-athletes panel, using the platform to share his personal experience and advocate for gun safety.

In April, DeAndre’ Bembry took part in a virtual school assembly for the Huddle Up Bullying Prevention Program in Toronto. The program aims to curb bullying, discrimination, and racism by fostering an environment of equity, diversity, and inclusion. It also empowers students to take initiative. Bembry’s virtual talk was streamed to thousands of young people across 100 schools in Ontario. The goal was to teach students how to navigate through tough times and emerge stronger.

Bembry is joining a Wear Orange virtual panel in conjunction with the 7th Annual National Gun Violence Awareness Day on June 4, to recount his family’s story. His unwavering commitment to safety, in reaction to gun violence, is both undeniable and inspiring. It’s remarkable how he 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, presented by Kaiser Permanente. This acknowledgement was given in recognition of his ongoing dedication to assisting young people and families in the larger Phoenix area.

At a Suns home game in May, Booker stunned five local nonprofit organizations when he announced during a pre-recorded in-game speech that they were the 2020-21 beneficiaries of the Devin Booker Starting Five initiative. Each organization, including Arizona Autism United, Central Arizona Shelter Services, YMCA of Southern Arizona, GAP Ministries and Elevate Phoenix, received a $100,000 grant from Booker. The funds were set to address the critical financial needs brought on by the pandemic and to bolster their endeavors to enhance the lives of local families and youth. In addition to this, Booker and Phoenix Suns Charities launched a limited-edition Devin Booker Starting Five hoodie to celebrate and raise funds for the 2020-21 class. The hoodies, uniquely designed by Booker, were sold for a limited period, with all proceeds going to Phoenix Suns Charities.

The Devin Booker Starting Five, in its second class, annually donates $500,000 to five different youth-serving nonprofits in Arizona. Over five years, this amounts to a total of $2.5 million. The first class, which included Special Olympics Arizona, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center, UMOM New Day Centers, and Ability 360, received $100,000 grants in late 2019. Besides his Starting Five initiative, Booker also offers considerable support to the Valley’s youth and families through COVID-19 relief and holiday shopping sprees. As a Special Olympics Global Ambassador, he actively advocates for inclusion through sport.

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Joel Embiid

Benefiting Charity: Covenant House Pennsylvania

In March, Joel Embiid, center for the Philadelphia 76ers, received the Community Assist Award. Following his fourth consecutive year as an NBA All-Star starter, Embiid continued his fight against homelessness in Philadelphia. He donated $100,000 to three local organizations: Youth Services Inc., Project HOME, and Sunday Breakfast Mission. Additionally, he provided 15,000 meals, 4,000 essential clothing pieces, and medical treatment for 1,000 individuals lacking secure housing. He also gave 50 young homeless people access to a six-week summer camp and provided shelter for over 300 insecurely housed teens.

Embiid showed his support for local community members by helping five families severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. He provided each family with gifts and clothing, groceries and rent relief for the coming year.

Embiid has concentrated much of his community work over the past year on COVID-19 relief. He partnered with 76ers Managing Partners Josh Harris and David Blitzer at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic to donate $1.3 million to Penn Medicine for developing antibody tests for frontline healthcare workers. Embiid also committed to donate $500,000 through the #FirstRespondersFirst campaign, a project of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Thrive Global and the CAA Foundation, to distribute personal protective equipment to frontline workers, demonstrating his ongoing support for healthcare workers.

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Jrue Holiday

Benefiting Charity: The Jrue and Lauren Holiday Social Impact Fund

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

Upon signing with the Bucks in November, Jrue Holiday and his wife Lauren collaborated with the Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation to pinpoint small, women- and Black-owned businesses that were most in need of aid. After evaluating grant applications, the Holidays, in January, publicized their funding of seven local businesses – 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 provide a range of services in southeastern Wisconsin, such as assisted living, home health, childcare, mental health and substance abuse services, hospitality, among others.

Holiday has also pledged long-term support to communities that matter to him. This includes dedicating his entire 2020 NBA salary towards the establishment of The Jrue and Lauren Holiday Social Justice Fund. This fund aims to fight systemic racism and boost economic equality by offering financial assistance and backing to Black-led organizations and businesses. Earlier this season, the fund declared its support for 25 non-profits and historically Black institutions, in addition to 23 Black-owned small businesses located in Los Angeles, New Orleans, and Indianapolis.

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Damian Lillard

Benefiting Charity: Special Olympics Oregon

In acknowledgement of his ongoing efforts to empower Portland’s youth, Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard was awarded the April NBA Cares Community Assist Award, presented by Kaiser Permanente.

Since relocating to Portland in 2012, Lillard has been actively involved with local high school students through his RESPECT program, aimed at investing in, mentoring, and celebrating three local schools – McDaniel, Parkrose, and Roosevelt. Despite the challenges posed by the global pandemic and the transition to virtual learning, the RESPECT program adapted to ensure continuous engagement with students. Lillard took the initiative to conduct video visits to stay connected with the participants remotely and used his social media platforms to recognize students and teachers who embodied the program’s values. As schools resumed in-person classes, he supplied RESPECT-branded face masks for students and staff involved in the programs.

Lillard introduced a special RESPECT edition of his Dame7 shoe, exclusively for students involved in the program. The 500 pairs that were manufactured featured colors from McDaniel, Parkrose, and Roosevelt schools, and embodied the three RESPECT principles: Show Up, Work Hard, and Be Kind. These shoes were given to students at RESPECT’s partner schools who exemplify these principles. Lillard also sported these sneakers multiple times during the season. Furthermore, he continued his ambassadorship for the Moda Assist Program, in collaboration with Moda Health and the Trail Blazers. This initiative donates $20 for each assist made during the season to support the construction of inclusive playgrounds in Oregon. This year, Astoria has been chosen to receive funds for the development of a playground suitable for all abilities, 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.

Indigenous Basketball Australia, established by Mills, initiated the inaugural Indigenous Community Basketball League (ICBL) in February, designed to create opportunities for Aboriginal Australians under 14 to play basketball. The ICBL, taking place in eight Australian locations, aims to uphold and celebrate Indigenous cultural practices while focusing on basketball skills development and life education. This includes mental and physical health, as well as reinforcing personal identity during a crucial developmental period. Furthermore, Mills collaborated with the NBA and Jr. NBA to launch the National Indigenous Basketball Tournament (NIBT), set to take place on the Gold Coast in Queensland from April 11-13. This event will offer further development opportunities both on and off the court for 48 boys and girls.

Much of Mills’ professional career in the United States has been dedicated to giving back to Australia, particularly by empowering Indigenous youth and communities of color. In 2020, he donated the remaining salary from his 2019-20 season to organizations focused on social justice and helped establish the ‘We Got You’ campaign alongside other prominent Australian athletes. This campaign is devoted to eradicating racism, exclusion, and discrimination in sports. In response to the catastrophic Australian bushfires earlier in the year, Mills orchestrated a donation of $750,000 from nine Australian NBA players.

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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, sponsored by Kaiser Permanente. This award acknowledges 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 donated $12 million to Greenwich Country Day School, the alma mater of Donovan and Jordan Mitchell and the institution where their mother, Nicole, spent over ten years as a teacher. This donation, the largest in the school’s history, will be used to establish the Mitchell Family Scholarship Fund, supporting students from pre-K to 12th grade. Additionally, the Nicole Mitchell Faculty Support Fund will be created to aid teachers who embody Nicole’s enthusiastic approach to teaching. A new facility, the D.O.N.! The Determination Over Negativity Mitchell Family Athletic Center, will also be built. Furthermore, last summer, Mitchell contributed the earnings from his Adidas D.O.N. Issue #2 sneakers to the education of Jacob Blake’s children, minority students at the University of Louisville, and preschool teachers in Connecticut and the Bronx. This resulted in over $300,000 in scholarships and academic aid.

Mitchell remained steadfast in his commitment to address racial injustice during the NBA season restart in 2019-20. In the offseason, he continued the dialogue by teaming up with then vice-presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris, CJ McCollum from Portland, and Tobias Harris from Philadelphia. Their discussion focused on educational, economic, and social disparities. Added to the initial board of the National Basketball Social Justice Coalition, Mitchell will use the popularity of the sport to raise awareness, educate, and lobby for significant changes. He also routinely gives back to those most in need through his SPIDACARES organization.

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Larry Nance Jr.

Benefiting Charity: Athletes vs. Chron’s

Northeast Ohio native, Larry Nance Jr., is celebrated as a basketball and community champion. Following the severe effects of COVID-19 on small businesses, Larry pledged to use each regular season game to support pre-chosen local businesses. He does this by donating all the auction proceeds from his game-worn jerseys. In addition, both Larry and the Cavs double the proceeds, effectively tripling each donation received by the small businesses.

Larry’s social media challenge resulted in him receiving hundreds of packages from local businesses keen to be showcased during his pregame walk-up. To provide fans with a more comprehensive view of these businesses, post-game interviews with the owners are conducted by the Cavs FieldHouse Creative Team and featured on Cavs’ digital platforms. This allows the stories of these businesses to reach a wider audience across the Northeast Ohio community.

As the season of the Cavs wrapped up, Larry managed to collect over $222k and offered priceless publicity for 72 commendable small businesses. Moreover, Cavs’s corporate ally, Westfield, doubled the funds raised via Larry’s jersey auction by donating an extra $100K to the Urban League of Greater Cleveland and the Akron Urban League, both of which aid minority-owned businesses. On a different note, in 2017, Larry established the Athletes vs Chron’s and Colitis foundation with a goal of increasing awareness of both illnesses among teenagers, and assisting children in achieving their athletic dreams despite their diagnoses.

During 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

Joining the Mavericks just prior to the 2020-21 season, Richardson immediately aimed to make a difference in the Dallas area. He surprised numerous frontline health care workers from UT Southwestern Medical Center with Reebok sneakers, team merchandise, and a video message expressing gratitude for their continued efforts in safeguarding the community. Richardson also surprised a first-grade class from the Dallas Independent School District as a guest reader, promoting the importance of reading and education amidst the unique challenges of this school year.

Richardson, the son of an Air Force servicewoman, remains actively involved with the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, a program offering support and resources to those mourning the loss of a military servicemember. Over the years, he has built a strong bond with his mentee, Elijah, through the program. During the festive season, he extended his support to over 20 families who, like him, have lost a loved one in service, by providing them with gifts.

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Russell Westbrook

Benefiting Charity: Russell Westbrook Why Not? Foundation

Russell Westbrook continues to make his mark in the communities where he resides and plays. In the process of integrating into a new team market, Westbrook collaborated with the LA Promise Fund to establish the Russell Westbrook Why Not? Academy in his native Los Angeles. The academy, which caters to students from middle to high school, aims to enhance access to educational services and outdoor activities for children and the broader south Los Angeles community. Westbrook set up The Why Not? Foundation in 2012 with the primary objective of offering services to vulnerable groups, including education, mental health resources and workforce tools, while inspiring young individuals to think creatively, chase their dreams and never give in, regardless of the challenges they face. In November, Westbrook and his foundation joined forces with the L.A. Regional Food Bank to hand out 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. This school primarily serves students who often hail from homeless or unstable living conditions. In February, Russell took on an advisory role at Varo Bank, with the aim of mitigating income disparities via programs aimed at boosting financial literacy among minority communities. Westbrook has not only been involved in direct community engagement but has also made an effort to educate communities about the various inequalities Black people in America have experienced throughout history.

In April, Russell revealed that he was creating a documentary about the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, a frequently disregarded and untaught event in American history. The documentary is set to premiere on May 30.

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