Giannis Antetokounmpo wins Bob Lanier Community Assist Award for December
The NBA today announced MilwaukeeBucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo as the NBA Cares Bob LanierCommunity Assist Award winner for the month of December.
Antetokounmpo is being recognized forhis efforts throughout Season of Giving – an annual five-weekcelebration beginning in mid-November that runs through Decemberwhen NBA teams and players give back by supporting and upliftingyouth, families, and organizations in their communities.Antetokounmpo will receive the David Robinson trophy and the NBAwill donate $10,000 to the Charles Antetokounmpo FamilyFoundation.
Throughout December, Antetokounmpohosted special events to give back to Milwaukee and the state ofWisconsin. On December 14, he hosted 100 youth from the Boys &Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee for a special movie night andholiday shopping experience. Antetokounmpo provided transportation,food and beverages and rented two movie theaters for a screening ofthe film “Wonka." After the movie, each child received a gift cardto Target to spend on gifts for themselves and family members.Antetokounmpo spent time shopping with the children and helpingthem pick gifts for their loved ones. He also helped to providebasic clothing, winter accessories and other household items forthe youth. More than 90% of the children from the Boys & Girls Clubof Greater Milwaukee qualify for free or reduced lunch, furtheringAntetokounmpo’s passion to provide a special experience that manykids could not typically afford. On December 16, Antetokounmpo andthe Milwaukee Bucks hosted seven youth from Make-A-Wish Wisconsin,with three families coming from Greece to meet him. As part of theexperience, the youth signed one-day team contracts with the team,watched practice and met Antetokounmpo prior to the game. Hesigned jerseys, shoes and basketballs for all the kids fromMake-A-Wish.
Also in December, Antetokounmpo andhis family hosted their third annual Christmas event, where thefamily hosted 300 Milwaukee foster families for a night of holidaycheer and celebrations. Children in foster care were able to enjoyan evening of balloon artists, face painting, dance parties andother games and crafts. Each child received a photo with Santa andthe Milwaukee Bucks mascot, Bango. The foster parents werealso able to visit a holiday gift shop to pick out toys and clothesfor the children. Volunteers helped wrap presents so eachfamily could go home with wrapped gifts to put under theirChristmas tree.
In addition to Antetokounmpo’s Seasonefforts throughout December, he tipped off Season of Giving withhis family by spending Thanksgiving Day serving dinner to 86 menliving in shelter at Guest House Milwaukee. The family paid for acatered meal and served dinner to the residents. Antetokounmpo alsoensured each resident received new blankets and socks, which arecritical necessities for individuals in shelter as they face winterin Wisconsin. In October, Antetokounmpo hosted The Big Give Back, adiaper and fundraising drive for the Milwaukee Diaper Mission. TheBig Give Back raised over $180,000 and provided more than 10,000diaper donations.
“I am fortunate to be in a positionwhere I can give back to the communities that have raised me,” saidAntetokounmpo. “Building my legacy on the court has been fun thesepast 10 years, but being able to take the next step in my careerand build a legacy of giving back with my family is what has beentruly rewarding.”
Antetokounmpo will be recognizedin-arena as the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award winnerduring pre-game of the Jan. 27 Pelicans-Bucks game. Bucks GeneralManager Jon Horst and Bucks and Fiserv Forum President Peter Feiginwill present him with the David Robinson trophy.
The NBA Cares Bob Lanier CommunityAssist Award honors Bob Lanier, an NBA League Office executive andNBA Cares Ambassador for more than 30 years. He had an enormousinfluence on the NBA family and young people globally, travelingthe world to teach the values of the game and making a positiveimpact through his kindness and generosity.
Each monthly winner receives the DavidRobinson trophy and the NBA makes a donation to the charity orfoundation of the player’s choice.
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