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

The NBA is excited to declare the 10 candidates for the NBA Cares Community Assist Award for the 2020-21 Season, sponsored by Kaiser Permanente. Each nominated player has demonstrated remarkable dedication to their community and making a positive contribution outside the court.

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Below are the nominees.

DeAndre’ Bembry

Benefiting Charity: AP World

Since beginning his career in the NBA, DeAndre’ Bembry has been committed to philanthropy. He established 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 offers resources to families dealing with and recovering from grief.

Throughout the year, DeAndre’ has been actively involved with AP World in various charitable activities. These include providing Thanksgiving meals for families, distributing brand new coats to children in need in collaboration 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, in partnership with Shoes that Fit. Prior to National Gun Violence Survivors week in the first week of February, Bembry took part in a virtual roundtable discussion alongside other athletes. He shared his story and advocated for gun safety.

In April, DeAndre’ took part in a virtual assembly for the Huddle Up Bullying Prevention Program in Toronto, aimed at stopping bullying, discrimination and racism. The program promotes inclusion, diversity and fairness and empowers students to act. Bembry’s online presentation reached thousands of young people in 100 Ontario schools, demonstrating how to navigate through tough times and emerge stronger.

Bembry is participating in a Wear Orange virtual panel to share his family’s story on June 4, in honor of the 7th Annual National Gun Violence Awareness Day. His dedication to safety in the face of gun violence is both undeniable and inspiring, transforming a tragic event into a foundation that aids 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 honored with the May NBA Cares Community Assist Award, sponsored by Kaiser Permanente. This award acknowledges his ongoing dedication to helping young people and families in the wider Phoenix region.

In May, during a Suns home game, Booker unexpectedly announced that five local nonprofits were the 2020-21 class of the Devin Booker Starting Five initiative. Arizona Autism United, Central Arizona Shelter Services, YMCA of Southern Arizona, GAP Ministries and Elevate Phoenix were the recipients, each receiving a $100,000 grant from Booker. These funds were targeted to address urgent financial needs following the pandemic and to support these organizations in improving the lives of local families and youth. In order to further celebrate and support the 2020-21 class, Booker and Phoenix Suns Charities released a limited-edition Devin Booker Starting Five hoodie that featured the selected nonprofits. The unique hoodies, designed by Booker, were available for a limited period and all proceeds went to Phoenix Suns Charities.

The five organizations are part of the second cohort of the Devin Booker Starting Five, a charitable initiative that annually donates $500,000 to five different youth-serving nonprofits in Arizona. This amounts to a total of $2.5 million over five years. The first set of beneficiaries—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 at the end of 2019. Besides his Starting Five project, Booker has also significantly supported young people and families in the Valley with COVID-19 relief efforts and holiday shopping sprees. Recognized as a Special Olympics Global Ambassador, Booker actively advocates for inclusion in 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. The same month, following his fourth consecutive year being named an NBA All-Star starter, Embiid expanded his work against homelessness in Philadelphia by granting $100,000 to three local organizations: Youth Services Inc., Project HOME and Sunday Breakfast Mission. Additionally, he provided 15,000 meals, 4,000 vital clothing items, medical aid for 1,000 people with housing instability, a six-week summer camp access for 50 homeless youths, and shelter for over 300 teenagers struggling with housing insecurity.

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

Over the past year, Embiid has been heavily involved in community efforts, particularly those related to COVID-19 relief. When the pandemic first started, he teamed up with 76ers Managing Partners Josh Harris and David Blitzer, contributing $1.3 million to Penn Medicine for the development of antibody testing for frontline healthcare workers. Embiid continued his support for healthcare workers by promising $500,000 through the #FirstRespondersFirst campaign. This campaign is a joint effort by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Thrive Global, and the CAA Foundation to supply PPE to 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, which is sponsored by Kaiser Permanente.

In November, after becoming a member of the Bucks, Jrue and his wife, Lauren, collaborated with the Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation. Their goal was to pinpoint small businesses, particularly those owned by women and Black individuals, that required the most help. Upon evaluating grant applications, the Holiday family declared in January that they would be financing 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 range of services in southeastern Wisconsin. Their services encompass assisted living, home health, childcare, mental health and substance abuse services, hospitality, and more.

Holiday has also shown long-term dedication to supporting communities that matter to him. This includes a commitment to donate the rest of his 2020 NBA salary to establish The Jrue and Lauren Holiday Social Justice Fund. The fund is aimed at fighting systemic racism and promoting economic equality by offering financial aid and backing to Black-led entities and businesses. Earlier this season, the fund revealed its support for 25 non-profit organizations and historically Black institutions, alongside 23 Black-owned small businesses in Los Angeles, New Orleans, and Indianapolis.

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Damian Lillard

Benefiting Charity: Special Olympics Oregon

For his ongoing efforts to empower Portland’s youth, Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard was given the NBA Cares Community Assist Award for April, sponsored by Kaiser Permanente.

Since his arrival in Portland in 2012, Lillard has prioritized investment and mentorship in local high school students through his RESPECT program. The program supports, encourages, and celebrates students from three Portland-area high schools – McDaniel, Parkrose, and Roosevelt. Amid the global pandemic and the shift to virtual learning this year, RESPECT adapted to ensure continuous engagement with students. Lillard maintained remote contact with participants through video visits and used his social media platforms to spotlight students and teachers who exemplify the program’s principles. As schools transitioned back to in-person learning, he supplied RESPECT-branded face masks for program participants, both students and staff alike.

Lillard released a unique RESPECT version of his signature Dame7 shoe exclusively for program students. The 500 pairs made featured the colors of McDaniel, Parkrose, and Roosevelt schools, and highlighted the three RESPECT principles: Show Up, Work Hard, and Be Kind. Lillard gifted these shoes to RESPECT’s partner schools as a reward for students embodying these principles and wore the sneakers multiple times in the season. Besides RESPECT, Lillard continued his ambassador role for the Moda Assist Program in collaboration with Moda Health and the Trail Blazers. This program donates $20 for every assist made during the season to fund the development of inclusive playgrounds for all abilities throughout Oregon. This year, Astoria has been chosen to receive funds to build a playground for all abilities and 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.

In February, Indigenous Basketball Australia, established by Mills to create opportunities for Aboriginal Australians in basketball, launched the inaugural Indigenous Community Basketball League (ICBL) for players aged 14 and under in eight Australian locations. These tournaments prioritize basketball development and life skills education, while also promoting and honoring Indigenous cultural practices. They aim to enhance mental and physical health, as well as reinforce individual identity during a crucial stage of life. Furthermore, Mills collaborated with the NBA and Jr. NBA to unveil the National Indigenous Basketball Tournament (NIBT), set to take place on the Gold Coast in Queensland from April 11-13. This tournament will offer additional on and off-court development opportunities for 48 young boys and girls.

Mills has spent a considerable portion of his professional career in the U.S. contributing to Australia, particularly by empowering Indigenous youth and communities of color. In 2020, he donated what was left of his 2019-20 season salary to organizations for social justice. Additionally, he partnered with other prominent Australian athletes to initiate the ‘We Got You’ campaign, aimed at eradicating racism, exclusion, and discrimination in sports. Mills also coordinated a $750,000 donation from nine Australian NBA athletes following the tragic Australian bushfires earlier that year.

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Donovan Mitchell

Benefiting Charity: Children’s Village

During the 2019-20 and 2020-21 NBA seasons, Donovan Mitchell, a guard for the Utah Jazz, was honored with the Offseason NBA Cares Community Assist Award. This award, presented by Kaiser Permanente, acknowledged his ongoing work in promoting social justice and advocating for education.

The Mitchell family donated $12 million to Greenwich Country Day School in December, marking the largest single donation in the school’s history. The school is the alma mater of Donovan and Jordan Mitchell, and where their mother, Nicole, taught for over a decade. The donation will fund the Mitchell Family Scholarship Fund for students from pre-K-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. Additionally, Mitchell donated the earnings from his Adidas D.O.N. Issue #2 sneakers this past summer. This contribution, which totaled over $300,000, supported the education of Jacob Blake’s children, University of Louisville’s students of color, and preschool teachers in Connecticut and the Bronx through scholarships and academic aid.

After steadfastly speaking out against racial injustice during the 2019-20 NBA season restart, Mitchell carried on the conversation during the offseason. He took part 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 place on the inaugural board of the National Basketball Social Justice Coalition. This group aims to use the influence of the game to raise awareness, educate, and push for significant reform. Through his SPIDACARES organization, Mitchell routinely offers assistance to those who are most in need.

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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, reacted to COVID-19’s severe toll on small businesses by dedicating each regular season game to supporting pre-chosen local enterprises. He achieves this by donating all proceeds from auctioning his game-worn jerseys. Both Larry and the Cavs match these funds, thereby tripling the donations received by each small business.

Larry’s social media challenge attracted hundreds of packages from local businesses seeking exposure during his pregame walk-up. In addition, post-game interviews with these small business owners are showcased by the Cavs FieldHouse Creative Team on Cavs’ digital platforms. This allows fans to gain a deeper understanding of the businesses, and moreover, their story is shared throughout the Northeast Ohio community.

The Cavs season wrapped up with Larry raising over $222k and providing crucial exposure for 72 noteworthy small businesses. Cavs corporate partner, Westfield, matched the funds raised from Larry’s jersey auction by contributing an additional $100K donation to the Urban League of Greater Cleveland and the Akron Urban League. Both of these organizations support minority-owned businesses. Meanwhile, in 2017, Larry initiated the Athletes vs Chron’s and Colitis foundation to increase awareness of the two diseases among teenagers and to help young people fulfill their sporting potential, despite their diagnoses.

Larry utilized his platform amid the pandemic 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 2020-21 season commenced, Richardson joined the Mavericks and immediately aimed at making a significant impact in the broader Dallas region. He surprised numerous frontline health care workers from UT Southwestern Medical Center with gifts of 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, astonishing the students and urging them to value reading and education amidst the unique challenges of the current school year.

Richardson, the son of an Air Force servicewoman, has dedicated his time to the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, a program that offers support and resources for individuals coping with the death of a servicemember. Over the years, he developed a strong bond with his mentee, Elijah, through the program. In the holiday season, he generously gifted over 20 families who have experienced the loss of a servicemember.

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Russell Westbrook

Benefiting Charity: Russell Westbrook Why Not? Foundation

Russell Westbrook is leaving a lasting impact in the communities where he lives and plays. Upon joining a new team, Westbrook collaborated with the LA Promise Fund to establish the Russell Westbrook Why Not? Academy in his hometown of Los Angeles. The academy serves students from middle to high school and aims to improve access to educational services and outdoor activities for children and the wider community in south Los Angeles. In 2012, Westbrook set up The Why Not? Foundation with the goal of providing services to vulnerable groups, including education, mental health resources, and employment tools. The foundation also motivates young people to think creatively, chase their dreams, and never give up, no matter the odds. In November, Westbrook and his foundation teamed up with the L.A. Regional Food Bank for the ninth year in a row to distribute Thanksgiving meals 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. This school primarily serves students from homeless or unstable living conditions. Then in February, Russell teamed up with Varo Bank, taking on an advisory role to address income disparities through financial literacy programs aimed at the minority community. Beyond his direct community involvement, Westbrook has also made strides in educating communities about the numerous injustices Black people in America have endured throughout history.

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

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