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

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

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Below are the nominees.

DeAndre’ Bembry

Benefiting Charity: AP World

Since his NBA career began, DeAndre’ Bembry has shown a strong commitment to philanthropy. He started the AP World organization in memory of his brother Adrien, who tragically lost his life to gun violence just weeks before the 2016 NBA Draft. The organization aims to build safer communities and provide families with resources to cope with and overcome grief.

Throughout the year, DeAndre’ has been actively involved with AP World. His contributions include offering Thanksgiving meals for families, teaming up with Operation Warm for Children’s Aid in Toronto to give out brand 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, during the week leading up to National Gun Violence Survivors Week in early February, Bembry joined a virtual roundtable discussion as part of an all-athletes panel. He used this platform to share his personal story and advocate for gun safety.

In April, DeAndre’ took part in a virtual assembly for Toronto’s Huddle Up Bullying Prevention Program. This program is geared towards preventing bullying, discrimination, and racism by endorsing a culture that values equity, diversity, and inclusion. It also empowers students to act. Bembry’s online presentation was aired to thousands of young people in 100 Ontario schools, aiming to demonstrate to students how to face adversity and emerge 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. Bembry’s unwavering dedication to safety in light of gun violence is both undeniable and inspiring. His ability to transform a devastating event into a foundation that assists other families in dealing with grief is truly remarkable.

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Devin Booker

Benefiting Charity: Phoenix Suns Charities

Devin Booker, a guard for the Phoenix Suns, was awarded the NBA Cares Community Assist Award for May, presented by Kaiser Permanente. This award acknowledges his ongoing dedication to aiding young people and families in the wider Phoenix area.

In a surprise announcement during a Suns home game in May, Booker revealed the five local nonprofit organizations selected for the 2020-21 class of the Devin Booker Starting Five initiative. The announcement was made via a pre-recorded in-game address. 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 are aimed to alleviate the critical funding needs in the aftermath of the pandemic and to support their ongoing efforts to enhance the lives of local youth and families. To further celebrate and benefit the selected nonprofits, Booker and Phoenix Suns Charities unveiled a limited-edition Devin Booker Starting Five hoodie. The unique hoodies, designed by Booker, were available for a limited period with all proceeds going to Phoenix Suns Charities.

The Devin Booker Starting Five initiative, which donates $500,000 yearly to five youth-serving nonprofits in Arizona, has identified its second class of five organizations. Over a five-year period, this initiative will amount to a total donation of $2.5 million. The first class, which includes Special Olympics Arizona, the 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. Besides the Starting Five initiative, Booker has extended significant aid to youth and families in the Valley through COVID-19 relief efforts and holiday shopping sprees. Notably, he is also a Global Ambassador for the Special Olympics, fervently advocating for inclusion via sport.

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Joel Embiid

Benefiting Charity: Covenant House Pennsylvania

In March, Joel Embiid, the center for the Philadelphia 76ers, received the Community Assist Award. This recognition came the same month Embiid was named an NBA All-Star starter for the fourth year in a row. Embiid made a significant contribution of $100,000 to three local organizations – Youth Services Inc., Project HOME, and Sunday Breakfast Mission – in his ongoing effort to battle homelessness in Philadelphia. Additionally, he donated 15,000 meals, 4,000 essential clothing items, and provided medical treatment for 1,000 individuals who lack secure housing. Embiid also facilitated access to a six-week summer camp for 50 homeless youths and provided shelter to over 300 teens struggling with housing insecurity.

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

Embiid’s community contributions over the past year have largely centered on COVID-19 relief. When the pandemic first hit, he teamed up 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. Continually supporting healthcare workers, Embiid committed $500,000 via the #FirstRespondersFirst initiative, sponsored by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Thrive Global, and the CAA Foundation, to supply PPE for frontline 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.

Jrue and his wife, Lauren, collaborated with the Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation upon joining the Bucks in November. Their partnership aimed to identify small businesses, particularly those owned by women and Black individuals, that needed assistance the most. They reviewed grant requests and in January, the Holiday family declared their financial support for seven local businesses. These businesses which are based in southeastern Wisconsin 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. They offer diverse services including assisted living, home health, childcare, mental health and substance abuse services, hospitality and beyond.

Holiday has shown a strong commitment towards helping communities that matter to him, which is evident in his pledge to donate the rest of his 2020 NBA salary to establish The Jrue and Lauren Holiday Social Justice Fund. The fund aims to fight systemic racism and boost economic equality by providing financial aid and support to Black-led entities and businesses. Earlier in the season, the fund revealed its support for 25 non-profit organizations 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 by Kaiser Permanente. This award acknowledges his ongoing work to empower youth throughout Portland.

After moving to Portland in 2012, Lillard has dedicated himself to investing in and mentoring local high school students through his RESPECT program. This initiative supports, encourages, and celebrates students from three Portland high schools – McDaniel, Parkrose, and Roosevelt. Despite the global pandemic and the shift to online learning, the RESPECT program managed to maintain student engagement. Lillard utilized video calls to stay connected with the participants and used his social media platforms to highlight students and teachers who embodied the program’s principles. As schools resumed in-person instruction, students and staff involved in the programs received RESPECT branded face masks from him.

Lillard launched a special edition of his Dame7 shoe, the RESPECT edition, exclusively for the students in his program. The 500 pairs made featured the colors of McDaniel, Parkrose and Roosevelt schools and embodied the three RESPECT principles: Show Up, Work Hard, and Be Kind. He gave these shoes to RESPECT’s partner schools to reward students who exemplify these principles and wore the sneakers several times during the season. Apart from RESPECT, Lillard also continued his ambassadorship for the Moda Assist Program, a partnership with Moda Health and the Trail Blazers. The program donates $20 for every assist made during the season to fund the creation of inclusive playgrounds for all abilities across Oregon. This year, Astoria was chosen to receive funds to construct an all-abilities playground to enhance 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.

February saw the inaugural Indigenous Community Basketball League (ICBL) launched by Indigenous Basketball Australia, an initiative founded by Mills to create opportunities for Aboriginal Australians in basketball. The league, designed for players aged 14 and under, was held in eight locations throughout Australia. The tournaments not only preserve and celebrate Indigenous cultural traditions, but also focus on the development of basketball skills and life education, including mental and physical well-being, and reinforcing personal identity at a critical age. Mills also collaborated with the NBA and Jr. NBA to unveil the National Indigenous Basketball Tournament (NIBT), to be held from April 11-13 at the Gold Coast in Queensland. This tournament will provide further development opportunities both on and off the court for 48 boys and girls.

Mills has devoted a significant portion of his professional career in the United States to supporting Australia, especially in empowering Indigenous youth and communities of color. He made a donation of his remaining 2019-20 season salary to organizations committed to social justice in 2020. Additionally, he helped initiate the ‘We Got You’ campaign in partnership with other prominent Australian athletes, a campaign aimed at eradicating racism, exclusion, and discrimination in sports. In response to the severe 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

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

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

Mitchell showed steadfast dedication in speaking out against racial injustice during the 2019-20 NBA season restart. He kept the dialogue going during the offseason, participating in a discussion on educational, economic, and social disparities with then vice-presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris, Portland’s CJ McCollum, and Philadelphia’s Tobias Harris. Mitchell also earned a place on the first board of the National Basketball Social Justice Coalition – a group that will use the influence of basketball to promote awareness, education, and push for significant reform. He consistently contributes to those in greatest need via 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 committed to supporting local businesses hit hard by COVID-19. For each regular season game, he pledges to donate all the proceeds from the auction of his game-worn jerseys to pre-selected local businesses. Both Larry and the Cavaliers add to the proceeds, effectively tripling each donation received by a small business.

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

As the season of the Cavs wrapped up, Larry managed to collect more than $222K and offered priceless promotion for 72 worthy small companies. Additionally, Westfield, a corporate partner of the Cavs, matched the funds raised from Larry’s jersey auction with another donation of $100K. This donation was given to the Urban League of Greater Cleveland and the Akron Urban League, organizations that assist minority-owned businesses. In a separate effort in 2017, Larry initiated the Athletes vs Chron’s and Colitis foundation. This foundation’s objectives are to raise awareness about both conditions among young people and to assist children in achieving their athletic goals 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

Shortly before the start of the 2020-21 season, Richardson joined the Mavericks and promptly aimed to positively influence the greater Dallas area. He surprised many frontline healthcare workers from UT Southwestern Medical Center with gifts including Reebok sneakers, team merchandise, and a surprise video message expressing gratitude for their continuous efforts in maintaining community safety. In addition, he visited a first-grade class at Dallas Independent School District as a guest reader, astonishing the students and promoting the importance of reading and education amidst the unique challenges of that school year.

Richardson, the son of an Air Force servicewoman, has maintained his involvement with the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, a program offering support and resources to those mourning the loss of a servicemember. Over the years, he has fostered a strong bond with his mentee, Elijah, through the program. Furthermore, during the festive season, he offered gifts to over 20 families who had also experienced the loss of a loved one in the 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 where he lives and plays. As he adjusts to 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. This academy will improve access to educational facilities and outdoor activities for students in middle and high school and the wider community in south Los Angeles. In 2012, Westbrook launched The Why Not? Foundation with the aim of providing services to vulnerable populations, including education, mental health resources, and workforce tools. The foundation encourages young people to think creatively, chase their dreams, and persist despite challenges. In November, Westbrook and his foundation teamed up with the L.A. Regional Food Bank to provide Thanksgiving meals for Los Angeles residents for the ninth consecutive year.

In December, Russell organized a unique Christmas sneaker giveaway for all the students at The Children’s Guild District of Columbia Public Charter School. This school caters to many students who come from unstable or homeless living situations. In February, Russell teamed up with Varo Bank as an advisor, aiming to address income disparities by introducing programs that enhance financial literacy within minority communities. Besides his direct involvement in community outreach, Westbrook has also made strides in educating communities about the numerous inequities endured by Black people in America throughout history.

In April, Russell announced his production of a documentary on 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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