Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Melo among 5 up for NBA's social justice award

Written by 
Published in Breaking News
Friday, 11 June 2021 08:06

Portland Trail Blazers forward Carmelo Anthony, Sacramento Kings forward Harrison Barnes, Milwaukee Bucks guard Jrue Holiday, Philadelphia 76ers forward Tobias Harris and Golden State Warriors forward Juan Toscano-Anderson are the finalists for the inaugural Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion award, the NBA announced on Friday.

The award, named after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the league's all-time leading scorer, is given to the player who best embodies Abdul-Jabbar's message of civil rights, Black empowerment and racial equality.

The five finalists, whittled down from an original list of 30 nominees from each team, are in consideration for $100,000 award that the league will donate to a social justice-focused organization of the winner's choosing. The four other finalists will receive $25,000.

Anthony, alongside Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul, and former NBA guard Dwyane Wade, created the Social Change Fund in July 2020, an investment organization that strives to address the social and economic issues facing Black communities, including voting, housing and education. He also established the STAYME7O Propel Program and Creative 7, initiatives focused on content creation, fashion, art and design. Anthony is also a board member of the National Basketball Social Justice Coalition. His organization is the Portland Art Museum's Black Arts and Experiences Initiative.

During the run-up to the 2020 presidential election, Barnes worked with Be.Woke.Vote, a get-out-the-vote campaign aimed at historically disenfranchised young people. While in last season's bubble, Barnes pledged $200,000 to organizations and foundations that combat police brutality and racial inequality, including the family foundations of slain Black men and boys, including Trayvon Martin, Botham Jean, Michael Brown, Tamir Rice and Jordan Davis. The ninth-year forward also advocates for financial literacy, partnering with a Black-owned finance app and opening savings accounts for 500 students in Dallas and Sacramento, California. Barnes' organization is the Center for Policing Equity.

Harris, through the Tobias Harris Charitable Fund, awarded $300,000 to The Fund for the School District of Philadelphia to recruit teachers from historically black colleges and universities, and created the Tobias' Top Teachers program, which funds professional development workshops and purchases classroom supplies for teachers to help recruit and retain Black male educators. Through his Lit Labs program, Harris donated 30,000 books to 8,000 Philadelphia school children. His organization is the Fund for the School District of Philadelphia.

Holiday, who won the league's Joe Dumars Trophy for sportsmanship last week, established the Jrue and Lauren Holiday Social Impact Fund, along with his wife, who is a former United States women's national soccer team midfielder, last summer in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and global anti-racism protests following the murder of George Floyd. The fund provided grants to 50 Black-owned businesses and Black-led organizations in the New Orleans, Indianapolis and Los Angeles areas in November. His organization is the EXPO of Wisconsin.

Toscano-Anderson, an Oakland native, established the Journey to Achieve Foundation to help people of color in the Bay Area, Santa Cruz, California, and Mexico. The second-year forward, whose mother is Mexican and father is Black, was a part of the Warriors' Voters Win campaign during the 2020 election, emphasizing voting for Black and Latino communities. Toscano-Anderson's organization is Homies Empowerment.

The finalists were selected by a panel that included Abdul-Jabbar; Dr. Richard Lapchick, the director of The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport; Marc Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League; Janet Murguía, president and CEO of UnidosUS; Amanda Nguyen, founder and CEO of Rise; NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum and Teyonna Lofton, a student activist from Chicago.

The winner of the award will be announced prior to Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals.

Read 276 times

Soccer

Alves reports for weekly Barcelona court visit

Alves reports for weekly Barcelona court visit

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsFormer Brazil footballer Dani Alves on Thursday checked in at a Bar...

Fulham stadium plans include rooftop pool

Fulham stadium plans include rooftop pool

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsFulham have unveiled lavish plans for their redeveloped Riverside S...

Liverpool, Utd campaign to combat tragedy abuse

Liverpool, Utd campaign to combat tragedy abuse

EmailPrintLiverpool and Manchester United have jointly launched an education programme through their...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

Basketball

MPJ defends brother amid betting investigation

MPJ defends brother amid betting investigation

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsDenver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. said Wednesday night that...

Rockets, with play-in in sight, win 10th straight

Rockets, with play-in in sight, win 10th straight

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsOKLAHOMA CITY -- Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta, front offic...

Baseball

'He looks happy': Has Juan Soto finally found a home with the Yankees?

'He looks happy': Has Juan Soto finally found a home with the Yankees?

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsWHEN JUAN SOTO began to initiate himself with the New York Yankees,...

Athletics' Andújar has surgery, could miss month

Athletics' Andújar has surgery, could miss month

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsOAKLAND, Calif. -- Athletics outfielder Miguel Andujar had surgery...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated