NEW YORK, NY, January 28, 2022 – The National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) Foundation announced today that Sherrie Deans has stepped down from her role as the executive director.

As the first executive director of the NBPA Foundation, Deans led the work of the Foundation since 2015. In 2016, she created the Foundation’s player matching grant program, a program designed to support the individual philanthropic efforts of the players that make up the NBPA’s membership. During her tenure, the Foundation disbursed $20.6 million in grants to support the work of 635 current and former players in countries all around the world, including Australia, Canada, France, Israel, Italy, Mexico, Senegal, and South Africa.

Under her leadership, the Foundation invested in programs to preserve the legacy of the NBPA and the players who have been its leaders throughout its history by working with the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

“In her seven years at the Foundation, Sherrie went above and beyond, not only in supporting players, but in opening doors to new ways of working toward social change,” said NBPA president CJ McCollum. “We are thankful for the lasting impact she has made on the player’s foundation for years to come.”

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.