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

The NBA is delighted to declare the ten contenders for the NBA Cares Community Assist Award for the 2020-21 Season, sponsored by Kaiser Permanente. All these players have displayed outstanding commitment to their communities and made a significant 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 been committed to philanthropy. He founded 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 is devoted to building safer communities and offering resources to families to help them handle and recover from grief.

Throughout the year, DeAndre’ has been actively involved with AP World in various charitable activities. These include providing Thanksgiving meals for families, donating brand new coats to children in need through a partnership with Operation Warm for Children’s Aid in Toronto, and giving away 500 pairs of brand new shoes to the Boys & Girls Club Youth in Indianapolis in February, in collaboration with Shoes that Fit. Additionally, ahead of National Gun Violence Survivors Week in the first week of February, Bembry participated in a virtual roundtable discussion as part of an all-athletes panel, where he shared his personal story and advocated for gun safety.

In April, DeAndre’ took part in a virtual school assembly for the Huddle Up Bullying Prevention Program in Toronto. This program aims to prevent bullying, discrimination and racism by fostering a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion, and encouraging students to take action. Bembry’s online presentation, which was broadcast to thousands of young people in 100 Ontario schools, aimed to teach students how to deal with adversity and emerge stronger.

Bembry is taking part in a Wear Orange virtual panel on June 4 for the 7th Annual National Gun Violence Awareness Day, where he will share his family’s story. His dedication to safety in the face of gun violence is both undeniable and inspiring, especially in how he has transformed a tragic event 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 recognized for his ongoing commitment to supporting youth and families in the wider Phoenix area, earning him the NBA Cares Community Assist Award for May. This honor was presented by Kaiser Permanente.

In May, five local nonprofit organizations received a pleasant surprise from Booker at a Suns home game. Through a pre-recorded in-game announcement, Booker revealed them as the beneficiaries of the 2020-21 Devin Booker Starting Five initiative. Arizona Autism United, Central Arizona Shelter Services, YMCA of Southern Arizona, GAP Ministries, and Elevate Phoenix each were granted $100,000 by Booker. This funding aims to address their financial concerns post-pandemic and support their ongoing efforts to enhance the lives of local families and youths. Booker, in collaboration with Phoenix Suns Charities, also introduced a limited-edition hoodie dedicated to the selected nonprofits from the Devin Booker Starting Five initiative. The unique hoodies, designed by Booker, were available for a short period, and all proceeds were directed to Phoenix Suns Charities.

The five organizations belong to the second cohort of the Devin Booker Starting Five, an initiative that grants $500,000 annually to different youth-oriented nonprofits in Arizona – a total of $2.5 million over five years. The inaugural cohort – Special Olympics Arizona, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, the Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center, UMOM New Day Centers, and Ability 360 – received their $100,000 funding in late 2019. Besides his Starting Five project, Booker has made substantial contributions to youth and families across the Valley through COVID-19 relief efforts and holiday shopping sprees. Moreover, as a Special Olympics Global Ambassador, he passionately advocates for inclusion through sports.

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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. This followed him being named an NBA All-Star starter for the fourth year in a row. Embiid demonstrated his commitment to fighting homelessness in Philadelphia by donating $100,000 to three local organizations: Youth Services Inc., Project HOME, and Sunday Breakfast Mission. Beyond his financial contribution, he provided 15,000 meals, 4,000 essential clothing items, and medical treatment for 1,000 individuals dealing with housing insecurity. He also sponsored a six-week summer camp for 50 youth experiencing homelessness and provided shelter for over 300 teenagers facing housing insecurity.

Embiid reached out to help local community members heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. He offered his support to five families by providing gifts and clothing, groceries, and a year’s worth of rent relief.

Embiid has concentrated many of his community initiatives in the past year on COVID-19 relief. When the pandemic first hit, he teamed up with 76ers Managing Partners Josh Harris and David Blitzer to contribute $1.3 million to Penn Medicine for the development of antibody testing for frontline healthcare workers. He also pledged $500,000 through the #FirstRespondersFirst campaign, a project by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Thrive Global and the CAA Foundation, to supply PPE 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, jointly received the January NBA Cares Community Assist Award, presented by Kaiser Permanente, with Josh Richardson, a guard for the Dallas Mavericks.

In November, after becoming part of the Bucks, Jrue and his wife Lauren collaborated with the Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation. Their aim was to pinpoint small businesses that were primarily owned by women and Black individuals, which were in desperate need of support. After going through numerous grant applications, the Holiday family disclosed in January that they were funding seven local businesses. These included 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 diverse range of services in southeastern Wisconsin such as home health, assisted living, childcare, mental health and substance abuse services, hospitality, and more.

Holiday has also shown long-term dedication to aiding communities he values, notably by dedicating the rest of his 2020 NBA salary to establish The Jrue and Lauren Holiday Social Justice Fund. This fund aims to fight systemic racism and boost economic equality by funding and supporting Black-led organizations and businesses. Earlier this season, the fund publicized its support for 25 non-profits and historically Black institutions, and 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 presented with the NBA Cares Community Assist Award for April, sponsored by Kaiser Permanente. This award recognizes his ongoing commitment to empowering Portland’s youth.

Since moving to Portland in 2012, Lillard has dedicated his efforts to investing in and guiding local high school students through his RESPECT program. This initiative supports, encourages, and celebrates three local high schools – McDaniel, Parkrose, and Roosevelt. Amid the global pandemic and the shift to online learning, RESPECT adapted to keep students engaged. Lillard ensured communication with participants by committing to video visits and used his social media platforms to spotlight students and teachers who embody the program’s principles. As schools transitioned back to in-person learning, Lillard supplied RESPECT-branded face masks to students and staff involved in the program.

Lillard launched a unique RESPECT version of his signature Dame7 shoe, exclusively for program participants. The 500 manufactured pairs embodied the colors of McDaniel, Parkrose, and Roosevelt schools and spotlighted the three RESPECT principles: Show Up, Work Hard, and Be Kind. He distributed the shoes to RESPECT’s affiliate schools as recognition for students exemplifying these principles, and he also sported the sneakers in multiple seasonal games. Lillard persisted in his role as ambassador for the Moda Assist Program, in association with Moda Health and the Trail Blazers. The program donates $20 for each assist made during the season to fund the creation of inclusive playgrounds for all abilities throughout Oregon. This year, Astoria was chosen to receive funds to construct an all-abilities playground and enrich 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, a organisation established by Mills to help Aboriginal Australians get opportunities in basketball, launched the inaugural Indigenous Community Basketball League (ICBL) for players 14 years and under in eight Australian locations. The tournaments not only promote and uphold Indigenous cultural practices but also focus on developing basketball skills and life skills, including mental and physical health, and reinforcing personal identity during a crucial age. Moreover, Mills collaborated with the NBA and the Jr. NBA to reveal the National Indigenous Basketball Tournament (NIBT) to be held at the Gold Coast in Queensland from April 11-13. This event will further provide development opportunities on and off the court for 48 young boys and girls.

Mills has spent a significant portion of his professional career in the United States helping his home country, Australia, with a special focus on empowering Indigenous youth and communities of color. In 2020, he gave the rest of his 2019-20 season salary to social justice organizations and co-launched the ‘We Got You’ campaign with other well-known Australian athletes. The campaign aims 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

The Offseason NBA Cares Community Assist Award presented by Kaiser Permanente was given to Donovan Mitchell, a guard for the Utah Jazz, in acknowledgement of 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 $12 million donation to Greenwich Country Day School — the largest single gift the school has ever received. This is the alma mater of Donovan and Jordan Mitchell, and the place their mother, Nicole, taught for over a decade. The donation will establish three funds: the Mitchell Family Scholarship Fund for students from pre-K-12th grade, the Nicole Mitchell Faculty Support Fund for passionate teachers, and the D.O.N.! The Determination Over Negativity Mitchell Family Athletic Center. Mitchell further contributed to educational causes during the summer, donating the profits from his Adidas D.O.N. Issue #2 sneakers. This added over $300,000 in scholarships and academic aid for Jacob Blake’s children, students of color at the University of Louisville, and preschool teachers in Connecticut and the Bronx.

Mitchell maintained his vocal stance against racial injustice during the 2019-20 NBA season restart and kept the conversation alive in the offseason. He joined hands with then vice-presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris, CJ McCollum of Portland, and Tobias Harris of Philadelphia to talk about educational, economic, and social disparities. He was also appointed to the initial board of the National Basketball Social Justice Coalition, an organization aiming to utilize basketball’s impact to raise awareness, educate, and advocate for significant reforms. Mitchell also consistently contributes to the most needy 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 his home region of Northeast Ohio, has pledged his support to local businesses severely affected by COVID-19. He has committed to donate all the proceeds from the auction of his game-worn jerseys for every regular season game, with each game highlighting a pre-selected local business. Both Larry and the Cavs arrange to match these proceeds, effectively tripling the donation received by each small business.

Larry’s social media challenge attracted hundreds of packages from local businesses eager to be highlighted during his pregame walk-up. The Cavs FieldHouse Creative Team also conducts post-game interviews with these small business owners, which are featured on Cavs’ digital platforms. This not only offers fans a deeper insight into the businesses but also gives them a wider exposure to the Northeast Ohio community.

Larry managed to raise over $222k and provided crucial visibility for 72 worthy small businesses as the Cavs season wound up. Moreover, Westfield, a corporate partner of Cavs, matched the funds raised through Larry’s jersey auction by donating an extra $100k to the Urban League of Greater Cleveland and the Akron Urban League. These organizations are instrumental in supporting minority-owned businesses. On a different note, Larry initiated the Athletes vs Chron’s and Colitis foundation in 2017. This foundation is dedicated to increasing awareness of both diseases among teenagers and assisting children to reach their athletic potential despite their diagnoses.

Throughout the pandemic, Larry utilized his platform to address the mental and physical repercussions 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 with Reebok sneakers, team merchandise, and a surprise video message expressing gratitude for their continual efforts to keep the community safe. Additionally, he visited a first-grade class in the Dallas Independent School District as a guest reader, surprising the students and urging them to value reading and education amidst the unique challenges of this school year.

Richardson, the son of an Air Force servicewoman, has remained involved with the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors. This program offers support and resources to those mourning the loss of a servicemember. He has fostered a strong bond with his mentee, Elijah, within this program over several years. Throughout the holiday season, Richardson extended his generosity to over 20 families also grieving the loss of a servicemember, by providing them with gifts.

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Russell Westbrook

Benefiting Charity: Russell Westbrook Why Not? Foundation

Russell Westbrook is constantly making a positive impact in the communities where he lives and plays. Recently, he collaborated with the LA Promise Fund to establish the Russell Westbrook Why Not? Academy in his native Los Angeles. This academy will provide middle and high school students, as well as the wider community in south Los Angeles, with improved access to educational services and outdoor activities. The Why Not? Foundation, which Westbrook started in 2012, aims to support at-risk populations by offering services like education, mental health resources, and workforce tools. It also encourages young people to think creatively, pursue their dreams, and not give up, no matter how challenging the circumstances. Last November, Westbrook and his foundation teamed up with the L.A. Regional Food Bank to provide 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. This school caters to a large number of students from homeless or unstable housing backgrounds. In February, he became an advisor at Varo Bank, aiming to address income inequalities through financial literacy programs targeted at minority communities. Besides his hands-on community outreach, Westbrook has also undertaken the task of educating communities about the various injustices Black people in America have endured throughout history.

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

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