NBA stamps social impact footprint in Indianapolis for All-Star 2024

Panini Rising Star Paolo Banchero participates in NBA Cares Day of Service as part of 2023 NBA All-Star Weekend.

NBA All-Star Weekend returns to Indianapolis for the first time since 1985. The NBA brings with it not only the best basketball players in the world but its top-notch social impact efforts as well.

Beginning February 14, the NBA family will partner with the Indiana Pacers and other key organizations and charities throughout Indiana to contribute to social and economic movements across the state.

The NBA estimates a local community and economic contribution of more than $3.5 million. The contribution results from special programming and volunteer events that the NBA and its partners will hold.

Here are some events that people can participate in and help contribute to.

Youth and Education

The NBA’s work to positively impact Indiana’s youth started way before February. Earlier this year, the NBA, Indiana Pacers and State Farm partnered with Christamore House of Indianapolis to renovate the youth and adult service center.

Christamore House is an adult and youth center that serves its community members. Children have access to the gymnasium to play basketball and other sports, participate in afternoon programs and attend classes that help teach life and social skills. They also offer assistance to help adults find employment opportunities and sustainable living arrangements.

The renovations include a new state-of-the-art STEAM lab with a 3D printer and interactive LEGO wall, a refurbished gymnasium and a revitalized wellness room. The Christamore House is the 24th Legacy Project the Indiana Pacers have built since 2020 to provide safe places for families and youth.

“It’s just history. I feel like our Community Center has a rich history and a legacy. I just love to say the legacy continues. So being the 24th Legacy Project is a big deal,” Executive Director of Christamore House La’Toya Pitts said.

For the first activation during All-Star, members of the NBA, WNBA, and Pacers players will visit children and families at Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital at Ascension St. Vincent. The players will participate in various activities and provide words of encouragement to patients and families.

The Pacers are a long-standing partner with the hospital. Earlier this season, Obi Toppin visited, talked to children and families and signed autographs. The high-flying forward even helped one of the patients put on a dunking clinic.

“Our kids are so strong and resilient,” said Meg Zakrzewski, Vice President of Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital.

“In my experience, there is nothing like pediatric care,” Zakrzewski said. “Seeing these kiddos come in – and maybe they are hurt or sick, and it’s probably the most difficult days [of] their life –  and they are happy. They want to play, and they want to make the best of it.”

In partnership with long-standing NBA partner Make-A-Wish Foundation,13 more children and families will have their wishes granted this All-Star weekend. The kids will be in the arena every night, attending Panini Rising Stars, NBA All-Star Practice presented by AT&T, State Farm All-Star Saturday Night, Legends Brunch and the NBA All-Star game.

Food Insecurity

NBA Cares All-Star Day of Service returns for the 16th consecutive year, but this time with a twist. For the first time, the Day of Service will be a 24-hour marathon.

Over one million Hoosiers don’t know where their next meal is coming from and the Million Meal Movement aims to decrease that statistic. Thousands of volunteers from Indiana, the NBA and WNBA and the Pacers will pack over one million meals at Lucas Oil Stadium.

The meals will go towards food banks and families recovering from COVID-19 or impacted by other social and economic factors. The goal is to help families not only in Indiana but all over the globe.

“When you are looking at just children, they say roughly one in four are actually food insecure. We want to do something about that, the Indiana Pacers want to do something about that and NBA Cares wants to do something about that,” said Nancy Hintz, executive director of the Million Meal Movement.

“So, this is of our way of kind of drawing a line in the sand and saying look, we really have to change this.”

Supporting LGBTQ+ Community

The NBA and the Indiana Youth Group will continue celebrating its commitment to the LGBTQ+ community, as LGBTQ+ youth and their families will participate in various educational and fun activities alongside NBA and WNBA players and legends.

Some of the activities include video game therapy and decorating shoes. Video game therapy allows kids to open up and share their feelings while creating a fun atmosphere.

“It’s really big the players who have come out and supported queer kids,” said Indiana Youth Group CEO Chris Paulsen. “And to see that there are people, even though they are in the public eye, [to] support these kids and support them very publicly. It’s great for a lot of the kids who don’t have supportive families.”

HBCU & Jr. NBA

The Grambling State University Tigers celebrate their NBA HBCU Classic victory as part of NBA All-Star 2023.

The next generation of basketball players will also be on display this All-Star Weekend.

The NBA HBCU Classic presented by AT&T returns to All-Star Weekend for the third consecutive year. Virginia Union University will face off against Winston-Salem State University on TNT, NBA TV, and ESPN 2 on Feb. 17 at 2 p.m. ET.

As part of the NBA’s ongoing commitment and support to Historically Black Colleges and Universities, the NBA and AT&T will donate $100,000 to each school. Additionally, the NBA Foundation, whose mission is to further economic empowerment in the Black community, will announce a $1 million contribution to HBCU-based organizations as part of the weekend festivities.

The NBA will hold numerous HBCU events during the week including the NBA All-Star x HBCU Student Art Design Showcase where the next generation of emerging artists will have their artistic creations highlighted. Eleven HBCU students from across the country will also serve as event interns for multiple departments within the league office.

The Jr. NBA will also host multiple programs during All-Star week, including on-court clinics and off-court activities that emphasize the fundamentals of the game as well as the core values of the Jr. NBA – teamwork, respect, determination, and community.

Nearly 2,000 students from across Indiana, including 375 students from the Indianapolis Public Schools district will also be in attendance for the 7th annual Jr. NBA Day.

“The All-Star Game comes around every blue moon to our city. So, it’s awesome for the kids,” said Darren Thomas, District Director of Athletics for Indianapolis Public Schools.

“Jr. NBA reached out and they really want to put something on that’s for students that was no cost to them or our district. So that’s really a great opportunity for us that we’re excited to take advantage of,” he added.

Some of the additional programs include a Jr. NBA STEAM clinic, a Business of Basketball event for high school students and Her Time To Play programming.

NBA All-Star Charity Beneficiaries

During the NBA All-Star Game, the East and the West will each represent a charity. The East will represent Special Olympics Indiana and the West will represent the Boys & Girls Club of Indianapolis.

Each organization will start the game with $100,000, with an additional $240,000 going to the winning team. Also, through the NBA Cares State Farm Assist Tracker program, $1,900 will be donated for each assist during the game. The two charities will split the fund.

“For us to be able to root for the East and our hometown Pacers, you can’t describe that,” said President and CEO of Special Olympics Indiana Jeff Mohler.

“We are Pacer fans at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Indianapolis, but at the end of the day, we want to win,” said Maggie Lewis, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Indianapolis. “So, go West!”

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Read more about the Special Olympics of Indiana and Boys & Girls Clubs of Indianapolis and see the reactions from the organizations after being named All-Star Game beneficiaries here.