by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

May 11, 2020

NBA Players Association Helps Provide Over $500,000 to Match Player Grants

The National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) Foundation has announced that it has made a total of more than half a million dollars in matching player grants for March and April 2020.

The NBPA Foundation has used some of its funds to match the amounts that individual players have donated to several causes that have affected them or they are somehow connected to.

According to a statement, the matching grants were split primarily into two categories:

  1. Relief Efforts Related to the COVID-19 pandemic – This includes the funding of all medical supplies as well as expanding testing capacity, providing meals to families & front line workers, and providing educational supplies for students at home.
  2. Disaster Relief Efforts After the Croatian Earthquake – Includes increased funding for a hospital in Zagreb, Croatia, and supporting rebuilding efforts in areas that have been impacted by the earthquake.

The NBPA Foundation partnered with 21 players and their charitable efforts while matching their philanthropic support in their respective communities around the world.

  • Ante Žižić: Supporting rebuilding efforts following the Croatian earthquake in March 2020 (University Hospital Centre Zagreb).
  • Bogdan Bogdanović: Providing personal protective equipment to medical professionals in Serbia (Humanitarian Organization Divac Foundation).
  • Bojan Bogdanović: Supporting a local Bosnian hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic (University Clinical Hospital of Mostar).
  • Brandan Wright: Working to provide a digital learning community for his AAU team (Team Brandan Wright).
  • Danilo Gallinari: Providing operating support to create a temporary hospital for COVID-19 patients (Regione Lombardia Local Government).
  • Dario Šarić: Supporting rebuilding efforts following the Croatian earthquake in March 2020 (University Hospital Centre Zagreb).
  • Dennis Smith Jr.: Providing meals for medical responders and emergency room employees in Fayetteville, NC during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation). An additional grant was also matched to provide technology equipment for K-12 students in Cumberland County, NC (Cumberland Community Foundation).
  • Denzel Valentine: Supporting food distribution efforts in Lansing, MI for families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic (Great Lansing Food Bank).
  • DJ Augustin: Providing meals to frontline hospital workers in New Orleans, LA during the COVID-19 pandemic (Krewe of Red Beans).
  • Dragan Bender: Supporting rebuilding efforts following the Croatian earthquake in March 2020 (University Hospital Centre Zagreb).
  • Džanan Musa: Providing general operating support to a local hospital in Sarajevo, Bosnia to assist doctors during the COVID-19 pandemic (Dr. Irfan Ljubijankic Cantonal Hospital).
    Ivica Zubac: Supporting rebuilding efforts following the Croatian earthquake in March 2020 (University Hospital Centre Zagreb).
  • Jonathan Isaac: Supporting food distribution efforts in Orlando, FL for families impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic (Project Life).
  • Kyle Korver: Supporting local youth and homeless individuals in Philadelphia, PA during the COVID-19 pandemic (Helping Hands Rescue Mission).
  • Luka Šamanić: Supporting rebuilding efforts following the Croatian earthquake in March 2020 (University Hospital Centre Zagreb).
  • Marco Belinelli: Supporting a local hospital in Reggio Emilia, Italy during the COVID-19 pandemic (AUSL Reggio Emilia Bologna).
  • Mario Hezonja: Providing personal protective equipment to medical professionals in Dubrovnik, Croatia (Dubrovnik General Hospital).
  • Nemanja Bjelica: Providing personal protective equipment to medical professionals in Serbia (Humanitarian Organization Divac Foundation).
  • Nicolò Melli: Supporting a local hospital in Reggio Emilia, Italy during the COVID-19 pandemic (AUSL Reggio Emilia Bologna).
  • Steph Curry: Supporting food distribution efforts for low-income families in Oakland, CA (Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation).
  • Zach Randolph: Providing meals and educational supplies for K-12 students in Shelby County, TN during the COVID-19 pandemic (SchoolSeed Foundation).

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