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

The NBA is delighted to unveil 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 and made significant positive contributions outside the basketball court.

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Below are the nominees.

DeAndre’ Bembry

Benefiting Charity: AP World

Since the beginning of his NBA career, DeAndre’ Bembry has been committed to philanthropy. In honor of his brother Adrien, who tragically lost his life to gun violence just weeks before the 2016 NBA Draft, DeAndre’ established the AP World organization. This organization is devoted to the creation of safer communities and to providing resources to families for coping with and overcoming grief.

Throughout the year, DeAndre’ has been actively involved with AP World, taking part in various initiatives such as providing Thanksgiving meals for families, distributing brand new coats to needy children in partnership with Operation Warm for Children’s Aid in Toronto, and donating 500 pairs of brand-new shoes to the Boys & Girls Club Youth in Indianapolis in February alongside Shoes that Fit. Prior to the National Gun Violence Survivors week in the first week of February, Bembry participated in a virtual roundtable discussion with an all-athlete panel where he shared his personal experiences and advocated for gun safety.

In April, DeAndre’ took part in a virtual assembly for Toronto’s Huddle Up Bullying Prevention Program. This program aims to curb bullying, discrimination, and racism by fostering a culture of fairness, diversity, and inclusion, and empowering students to act. His virtual presentation was streamed to thousands of young people across 100 schools in Ontario. The goal was to teach students how to tackle difficult times and emerge stronger.

Bembry is taking part in a Wear Orange virtual panel as part of the 7th Annual National Gun Violence Awareness Day on June 4, where he will share his family’s experience. His unwavering dedication to safety in the face of gun violence is both inspiring and undeniable, particularly in how he has transformed a tragic event into a foundation that aids other families coping 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 acknowledgement of his ongoing dedication to helping youth and families in the wider Phoenix region.

In May, five local nonprofit organizations were pleasantly surprised by Booker at a Suns home game. During a pre-recorded in-game address, he revealed that they were the selected recipients of the 2020-21 Devin Booker Starting Five initiative. The organizations, which include 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 are intended to address the significant financial challenges brought on by the pandemic and to bolster their ongoing efforts to better the lives of local youth and families. To further honor and support the 2020-21 class, Booker, alongside Phoenix Suns Charities, launched a limited-edition Devin Booker Starting Five hoodie, which features the names of the selected nonprofits. The hoodies, designed by Booker himself, were available for purchase for a limited period, with all proceeds being directed to the Phoenix Suns Charities.

The Devin Booker Starting Five, which annually donates $500,000 to five different youth-serving nonprofits in Arizona, has named its second class of five organizations. Over five years, the initiative will donate a total of $2.5 million. The first class, 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 the Starting Five initiative, Booker has also significantly supported youth and families in the Valley 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, the center for the Philadelphia 76ers, was recognized with the Community Assist Award. Following his fourth straight year being named an NBA All-Star starter, Embiid continued his philanthropic endeavors in the fight against homelessness in Philadelphia. He donated $100,000 to three local organizations, namely Youth Services Inc., Project HOME, and Sunday Breakfast Mission. Embiid also provided 15,000 meals, 4,000 essential clothing items, and medical treatment for 1,000 individuals with housing insecurity. Additionally, he offered 50 young people experiencing homelessness access to a six-week summer camp and provided shelter for over 300 teens dealing with housing insecurity.

Embiid demonstrated his support for the local community by helping five families significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. He provided each family with gifts, clothing, groceries, and even covered their housing rent for the upcoming year.

Embiid has concentrated his community contributions in the past year largely on COVID-19 relief. When the pandemic began, he collaborated 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 professionals. In his ongoing commitment to supporting healthcare workers, he promised $500,000 via the #FirstRespondersFirst campaign. This campaign is spearheaded by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Thrive Global, and the CAA Foundation, and aims to supply personal protective equipment (PPE) to those working on the frontlines.

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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, which is sponsored by Kaiser Permanente.

Jrue and his wife, Lauren, teamed up with the Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation after he joined the Bucks in November. They aimed to identify small businesses, particularly those owned by women and Black individuals, that needed assistance the most. Following a review of grant requests, the Holiday family announced in January that they would fund 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 range of services in southeastern Wisconsin, including assisted living, home health, childcare, mental health and substance abuse services, hospitality, and more.

Holiday has also demonstrated a commitment to aiding communities that are significant to him. This includes a promise to donate the remainder of his 2020 NBA salary to establish The Jrue and Lauren Holiday Social Justice Fund. The fund aims to fight systemic racism and to boost economic equality by providing monetary support and resources to Black-led organizations and businesses. Earlier in the season, the fund disclosed its support for 25 non-profits and historically Black institutions, as well as 23 Black-owned small enterprises 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 honored with the April NBA Cares Community Assist Award from Kaiser Permanente. He received the award in acknowledgement of his ongoing work to uplift the youth of Portland.

Since moving to Portland in 2012, Lillard has devoted himself to mentoring and investing in local high school students through his RESPECT program. This program is designed to celebrate, support, and encourage students from three high schools in the Portland area, namely McDaniel, Parkrose, and Roosevelt. During the global pandemic, when virtual learning became the norm, RESPECT adapted to ensure continued student engagement. Lillard made efforts to stay connected with the program participants through video visits and spotlighted students and teachers who embodied the program’s principles on his social media platforms. Once schools resumed in-person learning, he provided RESPECT branded face masks to students and staff involved in the programs.

Lillard launched a unique RESPECT edition of his signature Dame7 shoe specifically for students in the program. The 500 pairs made included colors from McDaniel, Parkrose and Roosevelt schools and embodied the three RESPECT principles: Show Up, Work Hard, and Be Kind. The shoes were given to RESPECT’s affiliated schools as a reward for students who exemplify these principles, with Lillard wearing the sneakers several times throughout the season. Besides RESPECT, Lillard continued his ambassadorship with the Moda Assist Program, a partnership between Moda Health and the Trail Blazers, which donates $20 for every assist made during the season to fund inclusive playgrounds for all abilities across Oregon. This year, Astoria has been chosen to receive funds to assist in constructing an all-abilities playground, benefiting 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, Indigenous Basketball Australia, an organization established by Mills to create opportunities for Aboriginal Australians in basketball, launched the inaugural Indigenous Community Basketball League (ICBL). The league is designed for players aged 14 and under and is hosted in eight different Australian locations. These tournaments not only foster basketball skills but also aim to uphold and honor Indigenous cultural traditions. They offer life skills education, focusing on mental and physical health, as well as enhancing personal identity during an essential age. Furthermore, Mills teamed up with the NBA and the Jr. NBA to introduce the National Indigenous Basketball Tournament (NIBT), slated for April 11-13 at Queensland’s Gold Coast. This tournament will offer additional developmental opportunities for 48 boys and girls, both on and off the court.

Mills has devoted a significant portion of his professional sports career in the U.S. to philanthropic efforts in Australia, particularly in uplifting Indigenous youth and communities of color. He donated the rest of his 2019-20 season salary to social justice groups in 2020, and also initiated the ‘We Got You’ campaign alongside other prominent Australian athletes. This campaign seeks to eradicate racism, exclusion, and discrimination in sports. Additionally, in response to the catastrophic Australian bushfires earlier that year, Mills coordinated 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, Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell was awarded the Offseason NBA Cares Community Assist Award by Kaiser Permanente. This award was in recognition of his ongoing efforts to promote social justice and advocate for education.

In December, the Mitchell family made a $12 million pledge to Greenwich Country Day School, the alma mater of Donovan and Jordan Mitchell, and the place where their mother, Nicole, taught for over a decade. This donation, the largest single contribution in the school’s history, will establish the Mitchell Family Scholarship Fund to assist students from pre-K through 12th grade. Additionally, the Nicole Mitchell Faculty Support Fund will be created to support teachers who share Nicole’s teaching passion. A new athletic center, the D.O.N.! The Determination Over Negativity Mitchell Family Athletic Center, will also be built. This summer, Mitchell donated the proceeds from his Adidas D.O.N. Issue #2 sneakers, amounting to over $300,000, to assist in the education of Jacob Blake’s children, University of Louisville’s students of color, and teachers in Connecticut and Bronx preschools.

Mitchell, who maintained a steadfast dedication to highlighting racial injustices throughout the 2019-20 NBA season restart, continued these dialogues in the offseason. He joined forces with then vice-presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris, CJ McCollum from Portland, and Tobias Harris from Philadelphia to discuss educational, economic, and social inequities. Additionally, Mitchell was appointed to the first board of the National Basketball Social Justice Coalition. This organization aims to use the influence of basketball to raise awareness, provide education, and advocate for vital reform. Moreover, Mitchell regularly supports those in need via his SPIDACARES organization.

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Larry Nance Jr.

Benefiting Charity: Athletes vs. Chron’s

Larry Nance Jr., a basketball and community figure in his hometown of Northeast Ohio, has pledged to support local businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. He plans to do this by auctioning off his game-worn jerseys for each regular season game, donating all the proceeds to these businesses. The contribution is tripled, as both Nance and the Cleveland Cavaliers match the amount raised from the auction.

Larry received hundreds of packages from local businesses keen on being featured during his pregame walk-up, thanks to his social media challenge. Besides, the Creative Team at Cavs FieldHouse highlights post-game interviews with these small business owners on Cavs’ digital platforms. This provides fans with a more comprehensive view of the businesses and further promotes their stories within the Northeast Ohio community.

Larry managed to raise over $222k and offered valuable exposure to 72 deserving small businesses, as the Cavs season ended. The total funds were matched by Cavs corporate partner Westfield through Larry’s jersey auction, with an additional donation of $100K made to the Urban League of Greater Cleveland and the Akron Urban League. Both organizations are dedicated to supporting minority-owned businesses. In another venture in 2017, Larry initiated the Athletes vs Chron’s and Colitis foundation, which focuses on raising awareness of both conditions among young people and helping them to achieve their athletic potential, even with these 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

Shortly before the start of the 2020-21 season, Richardson joined the Mavericks and immediately aimed to make a difference in the wider Dallas area. He surprised numerous frontline health care workers from UT Southwestern Medical Center by gifting them Reebok sneakers, team merchandise, and a surprise video message expressing gratitude for their continuous work to maintain community safety. Richardson also made a guest appearance in a first-grade class at the Dallas Independent School District, where he surprised the students and promoted the importance of reading and education amidst the unique challenges of the current school year.

Richardson, the son of an Air Force servicewoman, has maintained an ongoing involvement with the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors. This program provides support and resources to those mourning the loss of a servicemember. Over several years, he has built a strong bond with his mentee, Elijah, through this program. During the festive season, he went above and beyond to provide 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 continues to make a positive impact in the communities he lives and plays in. Upon joining a new team, Westbrook collaborated with the LA Promise Fund to establish the Russell Westbrook Why Not? Academy in his hometown, Los Angeles. The academy aims to provide enhanced educational services and outdoor activities for middle to high school students and the wider community in south Los Angeles. In 2012, Westbrook started The Why Not? Foundation to offer services to vulnerable populations, including education, mental health resources, and workforce tools. The foundation also inspires young individuals to think creatively, chase their dreams, and stay resilient despite challenges. In November, Westbrook and his foundation teamed up with the L.A. Regional Food Bank to hand out Thanksgiving meals to Los Angeles residents for the ninth consecutive year.

In December, Russell organized a unique Christmas sneaker giveaway for all students at The Children’s Guild District of Columbia Public Charter School, which caters to many students from homeless or unstable housing situations. Then in February, he teamed up with Varo Bank as an advisor, aiming to address income disparities by enhancing financial literacy programs in minority communities. Besides his direct community outreach, Westbrook also actively educates communities about the systemic injustices faced by Black people in America throughout history.

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

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