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

The NBA is delighted to reveal the ten contenders for the NBA Cares Community Assist Award for the 2020-21 Season, sponsored by Kaiser Permanente. Each of these athletes has demonstrated remarkable dedication to their local community and made a positive contribution beyond the basketball court.

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Below are the nominees.

DeAndre’ Bembry

Benefiting Charity: AP World

Since his NBA debut, DeAndre’ Bembry has been committed to philanthropy. He established the AP World organization in honor of his brother Adrien, who tragically lost his life to gun violence just weeks before the 2016 NBA Draft. The organization focuses on creating safer communities and equipping families with the necessary resources to cope with and overcome grief.

Throughout the year, DeAndre’ has been actively involved with AP World, participating in several charitable activities. These include providing Thanksgiving meals for families, donating new coats to children in need through a collaboration with Operation Warm for Children’s Aid in Toronto, and supplying 500 pairs of new shoes to the Boys & Girls Club Youth in Indianapolis in February alongside the Shoes that Fit organization. Before National Gun Violence Survivors week in the first week of February, Bembry took part in a virtual roundtable discussion as part of an all-athlete panel. He shared his personal experiences and used the opportunity to advocate for gun safety.

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

Bembry is taking part in a Wear Orange virtual panel on June 4 as part of the 7th Annual National Gun Violence Awareness Day, where he will share his family’s story. His undeniable commitment to safety around gun violence is inspiring, as he has transformed a tragic event into a foundation that supports 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 recognized with the May NBA Cares Community Assist Award, sponsored by Kaiser Permanente. This was in acknowledgement of his ongoing dedication to helping young people and families in the broader Phoenix region.

In May, five local nonprofits received a pleasant surprise from Booker at a Suns home game. During a pre-recorded address, he announced that these organizations were the 2020-21 recipients of the Devin Booker Starting Five initiative. 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. The funds will be used to cover critical funding needs that arose due to the pandemic and to support their work to improve the lives of local children and families. To celebrate and further benefit the 2020-21 class, Booker and Phoenix Suns Charities launched a limited-edition Devin Booker Starting Five hoodie. These unique hoodies, designed by Booker, were available for a limited time, with all proceeds going to Phoenix Suns Charities.

The five organizations are part of the second batch of the Devin Booker Starting Five, an initiative that donates $500,000 annually to five youth-serving nonprofits in Arizona, amounting to $2.5 million over five years. The first batch, which includes 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 in late 2019. Apart from his Starting Five initiative, Booker has also made significant contributions to youth and families throughout the Valley via COVID-19 relief measures and holiday shopping sprees. As a Special Olympics Global Ambassador, Booker actively advocates for inclusion through sports.

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Joel Embiid

Benefiting Charity: Covenant House Pennsylvania

Joel Embiid, the center for the Philadelphia 76ers, was recognized with the Community Assist Award in March. This recognition came after he was designated as an NBA All-Star starter for the fourth year in succession. Embiid extended his dedication to fighting homelessness in Philadelphia by donating $100,000 to three local organizations: Youth Services Inc., Project HOME, and Sunday Breakfast Mission. In addition, he supplied 15,000 meals to the needy, 4,000 fundamental clothing items, medical care for 1,000 individuals with housing insecurity, a six-week summer camp for 50 homeless young people, and accommodation for over 300 teens dealing with housing instability.

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 a year’s worth of rent relief.

Over the past year, Embiid has concentrated much of his community work on COVID-19 relief. At the beginning of the pandemic, he partnered with 76ers Managing Partners Josh Harris and David Blitzer to contribute $1.3 million to Penn Medicine for the development of antibody testing for healthcare workers on the front lines. As part of his ongoing support for these workers, Embiid promised $500,000 through the #FirstRespondersFirst campaign. This initiative, run by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Thrive Global, and the CAA Foundation, aims to supply personal protective equipment to frontline workers.

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

Jrue and his wife Lauren joined forces with the Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation after Jrue joined the Bucks in November. Their aim was to pinpoint small businesses owned by women and Black individuals that required the most help. Having assessed grant applications, the Holiday family revealed in January that they were funding 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 offer a wide array of services in southeastern Wisconsin, including but not limited to, assisted living, home health, childcare, mental health and substance abuse services, and hospitality.

Holiday has also pledged long-term support to communities significant to him. This includes dedicating the rest of his 2020 NBA earnings to establish The Jrue and Lauren Holiday Social Justice Fund. The fund aims to fight systemic racism and enhance economic equality by financially backing and supporting Black-led organizations and businesses. Earlier this season, the fund announced aid for 25 non-profits and historically Black institutions, along with 23 Black-owned small businesses in Los Angeles, New Orleans, and Indianapolis.

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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 from Kaiser Permanente. This was in recognition of his ongoing work to empower the youth in Portland.

Since settling in Portland in 2012, Lillard has dedicated himself to invest and mentor local high school students through his RESPECT program. This initiative supports, encourages, and celebrates students from three Portland-area high schools – McDaniel, Parkrose, and Roosevelt. Amidst the 2020 global pandemic and the shift to virtual learning, RESPECT adapted to continue engaging with students. Lillard stayed connected with participants remotely through video visits and used his social media platforms to spotlight students and teachers who embodied the program’s principles. As schools transitioned back to in-person learning, he supplied RESPECT branded face masks for students and staff involved in the program.

Lillard launched a unique RESPECT version of his signature Dame7 shoe, exclusively for students in the program. The 500 pairs made were designed with the school colors of McDaniel, Parkrose, and Roosevelt, featuring the three RESPECT principles: Show Up, Work Hard, and Be Kind. These shoes were gifted by Lillard to RESPECT’s partner schools as a reward for students practicing these principles. He even wore the sneakers several times during the season. In addition to RESPECT, Lillard maintained his ambassador role for the Moda Assist Program, in association with Moda Health and the Trail Blazers. This program donates $20 per assist made during the season towards the construction of inclusive playgrounds for all abilities in Oregon. This year, Astoria has been chosen to receive funds for the development of an all-abilities playground, thereby 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, a foundation established by Mills to open up avenues for Aboriginal Australians in the field of basketball, kicked off the inaugural Indigenous Community Basketball League (ICBL) in February. This league, aimed at players aged 14 and under, was hosted in eight different locations across Australia. The tournaments not only celebrate and preserve indigenous cultural practices but also emphasize on basketball skill development and life skills education, including mental and physical health, and fostering individual identity at a pivotal age. Furthermore, Mills collaborated with the NBA and Jr. NBA to introduce the National Indigenous Basketball Tournament (NIBT) at Queensland’s Gold Coast from April 11-13. This tournament is set to offer additional on- and off-court development opportunities for 48 boys and girls.

Mills has devoted a significant portion of his professional career in the United States to supporting Australia, particularly by empowering Indigenous youths and communities of color. In 2020, he donated what was left of his 2019-20 season salary to organizations focused on social justice, and spearheaded the ‘We Got You’ campaign alongside other prominent Australian athletes. This campaign is committed to eradicating racism, exclusion, and discrimination in sports. Following the catastrophic Australian bushfires earlier that year, Mills coordinated a collective 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 awarded the Offseason NBA Cares Community Assist Award by Kaiser Permanente. This award was in recognition of his ongoing work promoting social justice and education between the 2019-20 and 2020-21 NBA seasons.

In December, the Mitchell family made a $12 million donation to Greenwich Country Day School, the largest single donation in the school’s history. This is the alma mater of Donovan and Jordan Mitchell, and where their mother, Nicole, taught for over ten years. The funds will be used to establish the Mitchell Family Scholarship Fund, which will provide support for students from pre-K to 12th grade. The donation will also set up the Nicole Mitchell Faculty Support Fund to aid teachers who share Nicole’s dedication to teaching. The new D.O.N.! The Determination Over Negativity Mitchell Family Athletic Center will also be created. Additionally, this past summer, Mitchell donated the profits from his Adidas D.O.N. Issue #2 sneakers. The proceeds, exceeding $300,000, went towards scholarships and educational support for Jacob Blake’s children, students of color at the University of Louisville, and teachers at preschools in Connecticut and the Bronx.

Mitchell continued his staunch commitment to condemn racial injustice during the 2019-20 NBA season restart by engaging in further discussions during the offseason. He joined forces with then vice-presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris, CJ McCollum from Portland, and Tobias Harris from Philadelphia to talk about educational, economic, and social disparities. Mitchell also earned a place on the first-ever board of the National Basketball Social Justice Coalition. The Coalition aims to utilize the influence of the game to raise awareness, provide education, and advocate for significant reform. Mitchell also 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 beloved basketball and community figure in Northeast Ohio, has pledged to support small businesses affected by the pandemic. He plans to help these businesses by auctioning off his game-worn jerseys, with all proceeds going to pre-selected local businesses. Additionally, Larry and the Cavaliers will match these proceeds, thereby tripling the donation each small business receives.

Larry’s social media challenge garnered hundreds of packages from local businesses eager to feature in his pregame walk-up. Moreover, the Cavs FieldHouse Creative Team enhances the experience by posting post-game interviews with these small business owners on Cavs’ digital platforms. This not only provides fans with a detailed insight into these businesses but also highlights their narratives throughout the Northeast Ohio community.

The Cavs season’s end saw Larry raising over $222k and providing significant exposure for 72 deserving small businesses. Additionally, an equal amount was donated by Cavs corporate partner Westfield through Larry’s jersey auction, contributing an extra $100K to the Urban League of Greater Cleveland and Akron Urban League. These organizations support minority-owned businesses. In a separate initiative in 2017, Larry established the Athletes vs Chron’s and Colitis foundation. Its goal is to increase awareness of both diseases among adolescents and assist children in achieving their athletic dreams despite these diagnoses.

Larry utilized his platform during the pandemic to address 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 began, Richardson joined the Mavericks and immediately sought to influence the wider Dallas area positively. He surprised many frontline health care workers from UT Southwestern Medical Center with Reebok sneakers, team merchandise, and a surprise video message expressing gratitude for their continuous efforts to ensure community safety. In addition, he was a guest reader for a first-grade class in Dallas Independent School District, surprising the students and motivating them to embrace education and reading amidst the unique challenges of this school year.

Richardson, the son of an Air Force servicewoman, has been actively involved with the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, a program aimed at providing comfort, care, and resources to those mourning the loss of a servicemember. He has worked closely with his mentee, Elijah, via the program for several years. During the festive season, Richardson extended his generosity by providing gifts for over 20 families who, like him, have lost a loved one in service.

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Russell Westbrook

Benefiting Charity: Russell Westbrook Why Not? Foundation

Russell Westbrook is leaving a lasting impact on the communities where he lives and plays. Upon joining a new team, he collaborated with the LA Promise Fund to establish the Russell Westbrook Why Not? Academy in his hometown of Los Angeles. The academy serves middle and high school students, improving their access to educational services and outdoor opportunities in south Los Angeles. In 2012, Westbrook started The Why Not? Foundation with the aim of supporting at-risk individuals with services such as education, mental health resources, and employment tools. The foundation encourages youth to think creatively, chase their dreams, and persevere despite challenges. In November, Westbrook and his foundation partnered 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, an institution that caters mostly to pupils from homeless or precarious living conditions. In February, he teamed up with Varo Bank in an advisory role, intending to address income disparities through initiatives aimed at enhancing financial literacy in the minority community. Moreover, Westbrook has not only engaged directly with the community but also made a concerted effort to educate people about the longstanding inequities faced by Black Americans throughout history.

In April, Russell announced his production of a documentary on the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, an event often neglected and not included in American history education. The documentary is set to premiere on May 30.

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