Advertisement - scroll for more content
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement - scroll for more content
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
The Minnesota Fastbreak Foundation, the non-profit arm of the Timberwolves and Lynx, has announced plans to provide $200,000 in funding to local organizations, including $150,000 in immediate support for trusted partners helping those impacted during this unprecedented and difficult time in our community. The initial grants will be awarded to Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities, Greater Twin Cities United Way and Second Harvest Heartland. Each organization will receive $50,000 to distribute aid to the areas of our communities facing the greatest need. Following this round of grants, the foundation’s board will award two additional contributions totaling $50,000 to non-profits providing critical support in the community.
“At our core, the Timberwolves and the Lynx are about bringing people together through the power of sports,” said Timberwolves and Lynx CEO Matthew Caldwell. “At a time when unity and compassion matter more than ever in Minnesota, supporting nonprofits that are delivering critical resources is one way we stand with our neighbors in need and strengthen our community.” The foundation’s board has carefully reviewed and approved these grants to ensure funds support programs delivering measurable impact.
Redick has harnessed those emotions into purpose, collaborating with other Los Angeles leaders to create his charity, LA Sports Strong, and partnering with the nonprofit Steadfast L.A. to help rebuild the Palisades Recreation Center. He has met with builders, funders and civic partners. They have reimagined the rec center, with plans for fire-resilient buildings and 50,000-square feet of rehabilitated green and community space, protected by fire-resistant landscaping. On Jan. 8, Redick joined a fundraiser for the rec center, hosted at a home in the Palisades.
Eric Nehm: The Bucks have donated the food that was prepared for tonight’s game to local food shelters.
The Bucks have donated the food that was prepared for tonight’s game to local food shelters. https://t.co/JDF0kazRbq pic.twitter.com/vaPUZO9pa6
— Eric Nehm (@eric_nehm) January 25, 2026
Jason Beede: #Magic two-way players Jamal Cain and Orlando Robinson, along with team community ambassador Bo Outlaw and members of the 321 Hype Team, visited young patients at AdventHealth for Children on Friday. They made slime with the kids, shared jokes and handed out Magic goodies.
Advertisement
Bam Adebayo’s basketball resume includes three NBA All-Star appearances, two Olympic gold medals, two NBA Finals appearances, an NBA All-Defensive first-team selection, three NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week awards and a North Carolina Mr. Basketball trophy. The veteran Miami Heat center/forward is just as proud to add another accolade to his resume for his philanthropic contributions off the court. Adebayo was awarded the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award for December 2025 from the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association today. The nine-year NBA veteran was honored primarily for hosting his annual holiday toy drive and creating experiences for underserved youth through his foundation in December.
The NBA and the NBPA Foundation will donate $20,000 to the Edrice Adebayo Foundation in honor of his efforts. The award is named after late Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Bob Lanier, a former NBA star who was an NBA league office executive and NBA Cares ambassador for more than 30 years. “I don’t expect to get a community award because I do it out of love, passion and understanding of where I come from,” Adebayo, 28, told Andscape. “A lot of kids don’t have an opportunity to see somebody in the NBA playing at a high level, being successful and coming from their type of situation. Giving back has always been part of me. “Obviously, it’s a good thing to get recognized. But I never did it for the attention. I did it for the love and the passion for the people.”
The season of giving may be over for some now that the year has turned, but that’s not the case for Kyrie Irving. The Mavericks star guard began 2026 with a significant assist to support the latest album of independent hip-hop artist LaRussell. The Bay Area rapper announced Sunday that Irving paid $11,001 for his upcoming album “Something’s in the Water,” set to be released on Feb. 6.
Jason Beede: Before today’s game at Kia Center, #Magic forward Paolo Banchero met with Blake Bonta, a 12-year-old from Iowa who’s been battling brain cancer since January 2023. Bonta has helped raised over $100,000 for pediatric brain cancer research while going through treatments.
Advertisement
Mississippi Valley State women’s basketball continues to receive meaningful support from one of basketball’s most recognizable families. NBA star Ja Morant and his mother, Jamie Morant, have stepped in to sponsor the HBCU women’s basketball program, providing the Devilettes with exclusive Nike Ja 3 sneakers in multiple colorways. In addition, Jamie Morant gifted the team brand-new all-white game jerseys, giving the program a visible boost both on and off the court.
NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal is helping a young man chase his dream of becoming the tallest cop in Texas. Jordan Wilmore, 24, is an aspiring Kemah police officer. We first shared his story in September, before he entered the police academy. After completing the academy, Wilmore, who is 7 feet 3 inches tall, recently took his state peace officer exam and scored 69, just one point shy of the passing score of 70.
O’Neal, a certified peace officer himself, reached out to help Wilmore. He told the chief during a FaceTime call about Wilmore’s situation and has agreed to sponsor his next attempt at the police academy. “I want him to really focus on this because it’s commendable that a kid wants to be an officer. I love cops. They made me who I am,” O’Neal said. As an additional incentive, he says he’ll have a custom-made car ready for Wilmore when he passes the exam.
Ian Begley: Harlem native and Cavs forward Nae’Qwan Tomlin spent time with kids in Harlem before the Cavs played the Knicks on Christmas Day. It’s important for Tomlin to be involved with & mentor kids in his hometown of Harlem. Tomlin has made it to NBA despite never playing HS or AAU ball