NEW YORK, NY, April 12, 2021 - The National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) Foundation is pleased to announce nearly $200,000 in matching player grants in March 2021. Last month, the NBPA Foundation partnered with 13 current and former players to match their charitable giving and philanthropy in their communities. The majority of these grants will go towards covering operational expenses for youth sports programming.

“Youth sports more than ever need our support to ensure a safe return to play. Our players are at the forefront of finding safe and creative solutions to bringing these much needed resources back to our communities.” - Sherrie Deans, Executive Director of the NBPA Foundation

The NBPA Foundation provided matching grants to the following players:

Calvin Murphy: Grants will be used to support the Texas Youth Academy Houston and its basketball program to purchase computers and tablets for youth without access to technology for virtual learning and PPE equipment for a safe return to play.

• Organization: Texas Youth Academy Houston

Dewayne Dedmon: Grants will be used to support the Prime Youth Program, a youth basketball program based in Detroit, Michigan. It will help provide program participants with Wifi access, meals during after school programs and cleaning equipment to adhere to local public health guidelines.

• Organization: Prime Youth Program

Joe Harris: Grants will be used to help launch Joe Harris’ newly launched nonprofit in Chelan Valley, Washington. The funds will support the nonprofit’s summer basketball camp including purchasing uniforms, equipment and PPE to safely return to play based on local public health guidelines.

• Organization: Joe Harris Basketball

Josh Hart: Grants will be used to support Team Takeover by covering registration fees and operating expenses related to safely returning to play as well as expanding academic services.

• Organization: Team Takeover

Jusuf Nurkic: Grants will be used to build a basketball court in Portland, Oregon to provide a space to play as well as to host future youth programming. 

• Organization: Jusuf Nurkic Foundation

Kendrick Nunn: Grants will provide support to the Dovetail Project, a nonprofit focused on providing comprehensive support services to single fathers in Chicago. 

• Organization: The Dovetail Project

Kyle Anderson: Grants will be used to support Kyle Anderson in launching his new AAU team in New Jersey. 

• Organization: Team Slo Mo

Michael Carter-Williams: Grants will be used to provide general operating support to Michael Carter-Williams’ AAU team and cover travel costs, equipment and materials to safely resume play in the spring.

• Organization: MCW Starz

Mike Muscala: Grants will be used to support Peace Players International’s safe return to in-person play while also keeping virtual components to foster more connections across different cities. 

• Organization: Peace Players International

Myles Turner: Grants will be used to support on-going disaster relief efforts in Dallas, Texas following the winter storms in late February 2021. 

• Organizations: National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum, Dwell with Dignity and Empowering the Masses 

Tarik Black: Grants will be used to support the Tarik Black Foundation and its after school programs in Memphis, Tennessee as well as its international virtual entrepreneurship program.

• Organization: Tarik Black Foundation

Tim Thomas: Grants will be used to support Tim Thomas in expanding a basketball program at Pioneer Academy in Wayne, New Jersey. 

• Organization: Pioneer Academy 

Victor Oladipo: Grants will be used to support Team Takeover by covering registration fees and operating expenses related to safely returning to play as well as expanding academic services.

• Organization: Team Takeover

All media inquiries should be directed to communications@nbpa.com.

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.

###