NBA Players, NBPA Foundation Have Donated $5.5 Million Combined For Coronavirus Relief
New York, NY (May 1, 2020) It’s been a little over a month since life as the world knew it came to a standstill due to the coronavirus pandemic. In that time, the global economy has seen major shifts, with the Dow and the FTSE seeing their biggest drops in the first quarter of the year since 1987. 30 million Americans have filed for unemployment since mid-March. On a local level, communities are being ravaged by the pandemic as well with business and restaurants shutting their doors permanently every day. In the state of Ohio alone restaurants lost $698 million in sales in March, with 10% projecting to close permanently.
Clearly, times during this pandemic are obviously trying financially. But, those who are able have been stepping up to help those in need, NBA players included. Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, along with his brothers Thanasis and Kostas, have provided financial relief to hospitals in their hometown of Athens. They also have paid for personal protective equipment for frontline workers and donated food to those in need. Indiana Pacers star guard Victor Oladipo donated to Howard University Hospital. Cleveland Cavaliers center Andre Drummond donated $100,000 to the Middlesex Health’s Emergency Response Fund, allowing them to provide workers with proper protective equipment.
But, NBA players aren’t the only ones who are helping out during these troubling times. The NBPA Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the players’ union, has also been involved in relief efforts. Every time a player gets fined by the NBA, half of that money goes to the NBPA Foundation and the other half goes to NBA Cares. With that fine money, the Foundation offers player matching grants for every player, current and former, up to $25,000 a year. So, if a player were to donate $25,000 to an organization, the NBPA Foundation would contribute an additional $25,000 giving the recipient $50,000 total.
“Since we re-established the Foundation, this is how we decided to engage and work with the players. This is just an extension of that work. Since we started making matching grants, I think we’ve gotten up to 475 individual matching grants over the last five years. That number is going to skyrocket in the next three months.”
During the coronavirus pandemic alone 97 NBA players and the NBPA Foundation have donated $5.5 million combined to nonprofits to assist in the relief effort. That amount will only go up as things continue. Some of grants the NBPA Foundation has matched so far include Karl-Anthony Towns $100,000 donation to the Mayo Clinic - bringing the total to $125,000, the Antetokounmpo brother’s donation to assist Athens and Drummond’s contribution to the Middlesex Health’s Emergency Response Fund.
The luxury of the $25,000 the NBPA Foundation provides is the player is able to distribute the funds for any charitable way they see fit. For the Antetokounmpo brothers, they were able to split the matching grant to organizations that will provide to local hospitals and food banks. Drummond, meanwhile, hasn’t decided what to do with his matching grant yet but has options like the Middlesex Health’s Emergency Response Fund, the Jalen Rose School and his hometown’s local YMCA.
“They're all just being so thoughtful,” said Deans. “They're starting to move into education now and providing technology for kids whose academic experience has been interrupted. And I just also approved a grant to support veterans. It’s so broad. I wish I could point to one thing, but I'm so glad I can't. They're pretty much doing everything.”
With no immediate end in sight, things will likely continue to be hard for everyone impacted. But, with the combined efforts of NBA players and the NBPA Foundation, it certainly makes things easier. What’s done in the dark will find a way to shine, especially acts of charity and goodwill like this.
About the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) Foundation:
Established in 1997, The National Basketball Players Association Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the legacy of its members and providing support and assistance to persons, communities and organizations throughout the world that seek to improve the lives of those in need. Through grants that match players’ philanthropy and charitable giving, the Foundation highlights and accelerates the real and collaborative work that basketball players do worldwide to build their communities and create meaningful change.