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 sponsored by Kaiser Permanente for the 2020-21 Season. Each of these players has demonstrated remarkable dedication to their community, making a significant positive difference beyond the court.

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

Below are the nominees.

DeAndre’ Bembry

Benefiting Charity: AP World

Since his NBA career began, DeAndre’ Bembry has been committed to philanthropic efforts. He founded the AP World organization in tribute to his brother Adrien, who tragically died from gun violence just weeks before the 2016 NBA Draft. AP World is committed to building safer communities and supplying families with resources to manage and cope with grief.

Throughout the year, DeAndre’ has been actively involved with AP World. His contributions include providing Thanksgiving meals for families, supplying new coats for children in need, in collaboration with Operation Warm for Children’s Aid in Toronto, and donating 500 pairs of brand-new shoes to Boys & Girls Club Youth in Indianapolis in February, in conjunction with Shoes that Fit. Prior to National Gun Violence Survivors week in early February, Bembry took part in a virtual roundtable discussion in an all-athletes panel, sharing his personal experiences and advocating for gun safety.

In April, DeAndre’ took part in a virtual assembly for the Huddle Up Bullying Prevention Program in Toronto. The program aims to combat bullying, discrimination, and racism by fostering an environment of equality, variety, and acceptance while encouraging students to stand against these issues. Bembry’s online presentation, which was aimed at showing students how to prevail over adversity and emerge stronger, reached thousands of young people across 100 schools in Ontario.

Bembry is taking part in a Wear Orange virtual panel, where he will share his family’s story, as part of the 7th Annual National Gun Violence Awareness Day on June 4. His unwavering commitment to safety in the face of gun violence is both undeniable and inspiring. Bembry has converted a tragic event into a foundation that provides support for other families dealing with grief.

Vote for DeAndre’ Bembry >>

Devin Booker

Benefiting Charity: Phoenix Suns Charities

Devin Booker, a guard for the Phoenix Suns, was honored with the May NBA Cares Community Assist Award, sponsored by Kaiser Permanente. This award acknowledges his ongoing dedication to aiding youths and families in the broader Phoenix region.

In May, at a Suns home game, Booker surprised five local nonprofit organizations by revealing through a pre-recorded in-game message that they were the recipients 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 received a $100,000 grant from Booker to address funding needs post-pandemic and to support their initiatives for local youth and families. As an additional celebration and support for the 2020-21 class, Booker and Phoenix Suns Charities launched a limited-edition Devin Booker Starting Five hoodie. This hoodie, designed by Booker, was available for a limited period with all the proceeds going towards Phoenix Suns Charities.

The five organizations are part of the second edition of the Devin Booker Starting Five initiative. This initiative donates $500,000 each year to five different youth-oriented nonprofits in Arizona, amounting to a total of $2.5 million in five years. The first edition of this initiative benefitted the Special Olympics Arizona, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center, UMOM New Day Centers, and Ability 360, each receiving a $100,000 grant in late 2019. Besides the Starting Five initiative, Booker has made substantial contributions to youth and families in the Valley through COVID-19 relief efforts and holiday shopping sprees. Moreover, as a Special Olympics Global Ambassador, he actively advocates for inclusivity in sports.

Vote for Devin Booker >>

Joel Embiid

Benefiting Charity: Covenant House Pennsylvania

In March, Joel Embiid, the center for the Philadelphia 76ers, was recognized with the Community Assist Award. The same month, after securing his fourth consecutive NBA All-Star starter position, 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, Embiid provided aid in different ways, which included distributing 15,000 meals, 4,000 essential clothing items, and medical assistance for 1,000 individuals facing housing instability. He also provided access to a six-week summer camp for 50 homeless youths and 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 and clothing, groceries, and a year’s worth of rent relief.

Over the past year, Embiid has directed much of his community efforts towards 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. Continuing his support for these workers, he promised $500,000 through the #FirstRespondersFirst campaign. This initiative, led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Thrive Global and the CAA Foundation, aims to supply PPE to frontline workers.

Vote for Joel Embiid >>

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, presented by Kaiser Permanente.

In November, after becoming members of the Bucks, Jrue and his wife, Lauren, teamed up with the Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation. Their aim was to pinpoint Black-owned, women-owned, and small businesses in desperate need of help. The Holiday family, after evaluating numerous grant applications, publicized in January their financial support for seven local businesses. These 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 – offer a diverse range of services in southeastern Wisconsin. These services include home health, assisted living, childcare, mental health and substance abuse services, hospitality, and more.

Holiday has also shown long-term dedication to helping communities that matter to him. This includes promising the remainder of his 2020 NBA salary to establish The Jrue and Lauren Holiday Social Justice Fund. The fund’s aim is to fight systemic racism and enhance economic equality by offering financial assistance and support to Black-led organizations and businesses. Earlier this season, the fund declared its support for 25 non-profits and historically Black institutions, along with 23 Black-owned small businesses in Los Angeles, New Orleans, and Indianapolis.

Vote for Jrue Holiday >>

Damian Lillard

Benefiting Charity: Special Olympics Oregon

Damian Lillard, a guard for the Portland Trail Blazers, was awarded the April NBA Cares Community Assist Award, sponsored by Kaiser Permanente. This award acknowledges his ongoing dedication to empowering the youth of Portland.

Since 2012, when Lillard arrived in Portland, he has been dedicated to investing in and mentoring local high-school youth through his RESPECT program. The program serves to support, encourage, and celebrate students from three Portland-area high schools – McDaniel, Parkrose, and Roosevelt. With the global pandemic and the shift to virtual learning, RESPECT adapted to ensure continued engagement with students. Lillard made a commitment to stay in touch 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 shifted back to physical learning, he supplied RESPECT-branded face masks to students and staff involved in the programs.

Lillard launched a unique RESPECT version of his signature Dame7 shoe, exclusively for students in the program. The 500 pairs that were produced included the school colors of McDaniel, Parkrose, and Roosevelt and highlighted the three RESPECT principles: Show Up, Work Hard, and Be Kind. Lillard distributed these shoes to RESPECT’s partner schools to acknowledge students who embody each principle and also sported the sneakers several times during the season. Besides RESPECT, he continued his ambassadorship for the Moda Assist Program, in alliance with Moda Health and the Trail Blazers. This partnership donates $20 for every assist made during the season to fund the construction of playgrounds that are inclusive to all abilities across Oregon. This year, Astoria has been chosen to receive funds to aid in building an all-abilities playground, which will in turn enhance their community.

Vote for Damian Lillard >>

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 foundation established by Mills to offer basketball opportunities for Aboriginal Australians, launched the inaugural Indigenous Community Basketball League (ICBL). This league, for players aged 14 and under, is held in eight locations across Australia. The tournaments not only foster basketball skills, but also promote indigenous cultural practices and life skills education, focusing on mental and physical health and individual identity reinforcement at a crucial age. In collaboration with the NBA and the Jr. NBA, Mills also announced the National Indigenous Basketball Tournament (NIBT), set to take place on the Gold Coast in Queensland from April 11-13. This tournament will provide 48 boys and girls with further developmental opportunities both on and off the court.

Mills has committed a large part of his professional career in the US to benefit Australia, especially focusing on empowering Indigenous youth and minority communities. In 2020, he donated the rest of his salary for the 2019-20 season to social justice groups and participated in the launch of the ‘We Got You’ campaign along with other renowned Australian athletes. This campaign is devoted to eradicating racism, exclusion, and discrimination in sports. In response to the catastrophic Australian bushfires that occurred earlier in the year, Mills coordinated a $750,000 donation from nine Australian NBA players.

Vote for Patty Mills >>

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 was in appreciation of his ongoing work to promote social justice and further education. His efforts spanned the 2019-20 and 2020-21 NBA seasons.

In December, Greenwich Country Day School received a $12 million pledge from the Mitchell family. This is the largest single donation in the school’s history. The school is an alma mater of Donovan and his sister Jordan, and their mother, Nicole, taught there for over a decade. The donation will be used to establish the Mitchell Family Scholarship Fund for students from pre-K to 12th grade, the Nicole Mitchell Faculty Support Fund for passionate teachers, and the new D.O.N.! The Determination Over Negativity Mitchell Family Athletic Center. Mitchell also donated the proceeds from his Adidas D.O.N. Issue #2 sneakers this past summer. The proceeds, totaling over $300,000, supported Jacob Blake’s children’s education, students of color at the University of Louisville, and teachers at preschools in Connecticut and the Bronx.

Mitchell sustained his dedication to addressing racial injustice after the 2019-20 NBA season restart, extending his efforts into the offseason. He engaged in a discussion on educational, economic, and social disparities with then vice-presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris, Portland’s CJ McCollum, and Philadelphia’s Tobias Harris. Mitchell also earned a position on the first board of the National Basketball Social Justice Coalition. This coalition aims to use the influence of basketball to raise awareness, educate, and advocate for significant reform. Additionally, Mitchell consistently supports those most in need through his SPIDACARES organization.

Vote for Donovan Mitchell  >>

Larry Nance Jr.

Benefiting Charity: Athletes vs. Chron’s

Larry Nance Jr., a basketball and community icon from Northeast Ohio, has taken a stand against the severe effects of COVID-19 on small businesses. He pledged to uplift predetermined local businesses during each regular season game by donating all auction revenue from his game-worn jerseys. Both Larry and the Cavs contribute an equal sum, resulting in a tripled donation for each small business.

Larry’s social media challenge garnered hundreds of packages from local businesses keen to be highlighted during his pregame walk-up. In addition, the Cavs FieldHouse Creative Team conducts post-game interviews with these small business owners. These interviews are then featured on Cavs’ digital platforms, providing fans with a deeper understanding of the businesses and amplifying their stories throughout the Northeast Ohio community.

Larry successfully raised more than $222k and offered immense exposure to 72 worthy small businesses as the Cavs season ended. On top of that, Westfield, a corporate partner of the Cavs, matched the funds Larry raised through his jersey auction with an extra $100K donation. This donation was made to the Urban League of Greater Cleveland and the Akron Urban League, both of which assist minority-owned businesses. In a separate initiative in 2017, Larry established the Athletes vs Chron’s and Colitis foundation. This organization aims to increase disease awareness among adolescents and help youngsters reach their athletic potential despite their diagnoses.

During the pandemic, Larry utilized his platform to talk about the mental and physical impact of COVID-19 on individuals with pre-existing auto-immune conditions.

Vote for Larry Nance Jr. >>

Josh Richardson

Benefiting Charity: Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors

Shortly before the 2020-21 season began, Richardson joined the Mavericks and quickly aimed to have a significant influence in the wider Dallas region. He surprised many frontline healthcare workers from UT Southwestern Medical Center with Reebok sneakers, team merchandise, and an unexpected video message expressing gratitude for their continuous efforts in ensuring community safety. Additionally, Richardson visited a first-grade class in the Dallas Independent School District as a guest reader. He surprised the students and urged them to value reading and education amidst the unique challenges of this school year.

Richardson, the son of an Air Force servicewoman, continues his association with the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, a program offering support, comfort and resources to those mourning the loss of a servicemember. He has fostered a strong bond with his mentee, Elijah, over several years through this program. In the holiday season, he extended his support by gifting over 20 families who, like him, have lost a loved one in service.

Vote for Josh Richardson >>

Russell Westbrook

Benefiting Charity: Russell Westbrook Why Not? Foundation

Russell Westbrook continues to make a lasting impact in the communities he resides and plays in. As he settles into 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. The academy, which caters to students from middle school through high school, aims to provide more accessible educational services and outdoor activities for children and the broader community in south Los Angeles. Westbrook established The Why Not? Foundation in 2012 with the primary objective of delivering services to vulnerable populations, including education, mental health resources, and workforce tools. The foundation encourages young people to think creatively, pursue their aspirations, and to never give up despite facing challenges. In November, Westbrook and his foundation collaborated 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, which caters to many students from homeless or unstable housing situations. In February, he teamed up with Varo Bank in an advisory role, aiming to address income disparities by promoting financial literacy programs within minority communities. Beyond his immediate community outreach, Westbrook has also been proactive in enlightening communities about the various injustices endured by Black people in America throughout history.

In April, Russell announced that he was working on a documentary about the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre – an event frequently ignored and not taught in American history. The documentary is set to premiere on May 30.

Vote for Russell Westbrook >>