As part of the NBA Cares initiative, NBA teams have been active in the community this holiday season, distributing meals to those in need. Through NBA CARES, the league, players and teams will raise and contribute $100 million for charity, donate more than 1 million hours of hands-on volunteer service to communities worldwide, and build more than 100 places where kids can learn and play over the next five years. The following is a list of just some of the events that NBA teams and players participated in during the holidays:
ATLANTA HAWKS December 10-18 - The Hawks joined forces with the U.S. Marines’ Toys For Tots program to help those less fortunate. Fans participated by donating new, unwrapped toys valued at $10 or more.
December 15 - The team hosted a Reading Timeout at the School for the Deaf with Mike Glenn.
December 17 - Atlanta Hawks guard Joe Johnson hosted the first “JJ’s Santa-Lanta for Kids” holiday event for approximately 100 youths from the Boys & Girls Clubs of metro Atlanta.
December 21 - The entire team will take part in a holiday party for 200 kids at the Andrew & Walter Young YMCA.
BOSTON CELTICS December 12 - Marcus Banks, Ricky Davis, Dan Dickau, Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, Paul Pierce, and Delonte West visited the Boston Medical Center for a holiday party for children with sickle cell anemia.
CHARLOTTE BOBCATS December 12 - Brevin Knight and Alan Anderson made a holiday visit to the Presbyterian Hospital.
December 16 - The team will host its annual holiday party for 220 local children.
CHICAGO BULLS December 8 - The Chicago Bulls, Tyson Foods and Ty partnered to distribute 16 tons of frozen chicken and 12,000 Beanie Babies® to more than 50 local agencies assisting Chicago’s homeless and hungry. Former Bulls star Scottie Pippen, along with Bull Chris Duhon and former teammates Randy Brown and Bill Wennington participated.
December 17 - The Chicago Bulls and Midway Moving & Storage hosted a holiday food drive to benefit the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Prior to tip-off of the Bulls’ home game against the Boston Celtics, fans were encouraged to drop off non-perishable foods at any of the United Center admission gates.
December 21 - Tyson Chandler and Chris Duhon will host a holiday party for 300 people with the Fosco Park Department of Family and Children Services.
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS December - Cavaliers’ guard Eric Snow hosted his 2nd Annual Toy Drive, in-arena. All of the toys were donated to children in northeast Ohio through Snow’s Shoot for the Moon Foundation.
December 8 - Cavaliers forward Drew Gooden personally delivered Christmas trees to the homes of 10 Cleveland families in need.
December 8 - Two Hurricane Katrina evacuee families enjoyed a shopping spree, courtesy of Cleveland Cavalier Ira Newble. Newble met the families at Target, one a single mom and her son and the other, a mom, dad and three children—to present them with gift cards to do some Christmas shopping to help make their holidays a little brighter.
December 19 - To celebrate the holiday season, Cavs players will made a special visit to bring some holiday cheer to the young patients at The Children’s Hospital at The Cleveland.
DALLAS MAVERICKS December 1 - The team conducted American Airlines Gifts for Soldiers. Fans donated items that were delivered to military personnel at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, the largest American hospital outside the United States.
December 15 - The Mavericks and GameWorks® hosted a holiday party for 150 children on at GameWorks® l. During the party, youth from The Salvation Army, American Diabetes Association, Cook Children’s Medical Center and Gilda’s Club challenged Mavs players to their favorite GameWorks games and met Santa Claus, as well as Mavs mascots Mavs Man and Champ.
December 16 - Front row customers will gave up their courtside seats to soldiers from Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio for the teams “Seats for Soldiers” initiative.
December 17 - Marquis Daniels assisted ‘Santa Cops’ with their delivery of toys to kids.
DENVER NUGGETS December 20 - Greg Buckner hosted a holiday party for the kids at the Owen Boy & Girls Club.
December 22 - Cambyland Christmas-Marcus Camby will pick up local kids in a limo and bring them to Foley's Department Store and provide each kid with a $100 gift card to buy gifts for someone other than them to show them the joy of giving.
December 30 - Carmelo Anthony will host a holiday party at the Family Resource Center.
DETROIT PISTONS December - The Detroit Pistons have partnered with Allstate Insurance Company, to kickoff their 3rd annual “Good Hands, Warm Hands” mitten drive to benefit Salvation Army of Michigan. Fans can donate mittens during all Pistons home games prior to December 23. Every pair of mittens collected will be donated to Salvation Army of Michigan to help keep families warm during the cold winter season.
December 6 - Pistons Forward Antonio McDyess, Shock Head Coach Bill Laimbeer, Forwards Swin Cash and Barbara Farris, Palace Sports & Entertainment President and CEO Tom Wilson, Automotion, Hooper, Pistons In-Arena Hostess Erin Nicole, Pistons Spare Tires dance team and Four Guys That Can Sing, a barbershop quartet made up of senior students from Rochester Stoney Creek High School, rang Salvation Army bells and collected donations to help kickoff a weeklong collection effort by PS&E business staff.
December 14 - Detroit Pistons forward Rasheed Wallace has teamed with The Salvation Army for the second straight year to collect new coats at The Palace prior to Pistons home games during the upcoming holiday season. Individuals who donate a coat at a Pistons home game will receive an autographed 8x10 photo of Wallace and an opportunity to win an authentic autographed Wallace jersey.
December 22 - Richard Hamilton, Chauncey Billups and teammates will host a shopping spree at Meijer in Auburn Hills on December 22.
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS December - Mickael Pietrus, Derek Fisher, and Mike Dunleavy all adopted families and personally delivered gifts to them.
December 8 - In conjuction with the NBA Players Association and Feed the Children, Adonal Foyle, Mike Dunleavy, and Derek Fisher joined the Allen Temple Baptist to distribute of 5,000 boxes of food to needy families.
December 11 - Baron Davis adopted 50 children from a residential facility and hosted a holiday party. Baron also hosted a holiday dinner for Grandparents as Second Relatives. This organization serves as a support group for grandparents who are raising their grandchildren whose parents have either abandoned them or are addicted to drugs.
December 23 - Jason Richardson will surprise families in his hometown of Detroit for the holidays and host a holiday party. They will also be his guests when the team plays Detroit that evening.
HOUSTON ROCKETS December - Rockets players made special Ronald McDonald House appearances on Dec. 2, 4 and 20.
INDIANA PACERS December 18 - The Pacers teamed up with the Indiana Blood Center to host the “Give Blood. Give Life.” Blood Drive at Conseco Fieldhouse. Donors received a free mini-physical checking anemia, body temperature, pulse and blood pressure. Donors also received free cholesterol results with their donation.
December 18 - Holiday Hoopla III, hosted by Jeff Foster and Fred Jones, was held at Woodland Bowl. Foster and Jones hosted an evening of celebration and play for 100 “Littles” and their respective “Bigs” from the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana.
December 19 - Jermaine O’Neal hosted his annual Family Christmas Party at Conseco Fieldhouse. This year’s party included members from the Indiana Housing Authority, and youth participating in character building activities via the Police Athletic League and Neighborhoods Organized to Assist Humanity (NOAH). The children and their families enjoyed a day of food, fun and gifts.
December 19 - Members of the Pacers’ team and coaching staff, including Boomer and Bowser visited area children’s hospitals to help lift the spirits of those children unable to go home for the holidays. The team was split into three groups with each group visiting either St.Vincent Children’s Hospital, Riley Hospital for Children and Methodist Children’s Hospital.
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS December 11 - The Clippers partnered with Children’s Cancer Research Fund to bring a holiday treat to children with cancer. Through the Clippers 4 Kids "We Care Holiday Bear" Night ticket program, Clippers fans purchased holiday bears and tickets for children with cancer.
December 15 - Chris Wilcox, Elton Brand, Sam Cassell, Cuttino Mobley, Chris Kaman, and James Singleton distributed toys collected during the teams’ holiday toy drive to local underprivileged kids.
December 16 - Elton Brand, Sam Cassell, Shaun Livingston, Cuttino Mobley and Chris Wilcox adopted 20 families for the holidays. These special families attended a holiday party with gifts, food and a Reading Timeout with Clippers players. Additionally, Clippers players have joined together to assist these families with paying their rent this holiday season.
LOS ANGELES LAKERS December 16 - The Lakers had autographed custom-made Lakers ornaments available for purchase to benefit the Lakers Youth Foundation.
December 17 - Kwame Brown hosted his 1st Annual Toy Drive, where fans bought toys for children with kidney disease.
December 20 - The Lakers hosted a holiday party for kids in the arena with the team.
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES December 5 - Grizzlies players Eddie Jones, Damon Stoudamire, Dahntay Jones, Lawrence Roberts, Hakim Warrick, Anthony Roberson and Pau Gasol came together to join in the nationwide effort to help those in need during the Lift Up America Campaign. The players helped distribute Ty teddy bears and more than 30,000 pounds of Tyson products to the Memphis Food Bank and other local social service agencies.
December 5 - In addition to the Lift Up America campaign, Grizzlies players Bobby Jackson, Shane Battier, Brian Cardinal, Mike Miller, Antonio Burks, Jake Tsakalidis and Lorenzen Wright joined in the holiday spirit visiting LeBonheur Children’s Hospital to distribute teddy bears and toys and bring smiles to the young patients spending their holiday season at LeBonheur.
December 6 - The Grizzlies hosted the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets and as part of the team’s ongoing efforts to raise funds for Hurricane Katrina victims, all proceeds from single-game ticket sales for the game will be donated to the New Orleans Habitat for Humanity organization to assist in rebuilding homes in the Gulf Coast area.
December 16 - Grizzlies guard Mike Miller and his wife, Jennifer, took time out of their schedule to deliver toys and holiday cheer to children at the Hope House Daycare Center.
MIAMI HEAT December 21 - The team will bring holiday cheer and presents to patients at the Jackson Memorial Children’s Hospital.
MILWAUKEE BUCKS December 22 - The team will make a holiday visit to the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin.
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES December - During each of the Timberwolves December home games, the team will recognize a local Holiday Hero during a special on-court presentation. These Holiday Heroes will be Minnesotans who have inspirational stories of giving back to the community, improving their own lives or the lives of others.
December 20 - 10 local foster children awaiting adoptive families have been selected in conjunction with the Minnesota Adoption Resource Network and will be surprised by Timberwolves President Chris Wright and Qwest Minnesota President John Stanoch. Wright and Stanoch will arrive, along with Crunch and the Qwest mascot to announce that each student is going to be whisked away via limo to Target Center where they will meet up with Kevin Garnett, Trenton Hassell, Troy Hudson, Nikoloz Tskitishvili, Anthony Carter and assistant coach Rex Kalamian to eat lunch and go on a shopping spree at a downtown store. Each child will have their own NBA personal shopper on hand to help them select clothing, toys and any other items they might want.
NEW JERSEY NETS December 5 - Vince Carter hosted 25 displaced kids from Hurricane Katrina for a shopping spree at Toys R Us.
December 17 - The team hosted their annual Holiday Party at the practice facility for 500 kids from the Newark Boys & Girls Club.
December 19 - Richard Jefferson, Nenad Kristic, and Jason Collins distributed at the Salvation Army in Brooklyn.
NEW ORLEANS/OKLAHOMA CITY HORNETS December 7 & 14 - The Hornets hosted a canned food drive to benefit the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma.
December 17 - JR Smith hosted a children's holiday party for 100 kids from the Police Athletic League.
December 18 - Chris Paul donated 50 bikes to underprivileged children during the game.
NEW YORK KNICKS December 4 - New York Knicks and Rainier Beach basketball star Jamal Crawford unveiled the newly refurbished “Crawford Court” at Rainier Beach High School's gymnasium. The entire $100,000 project was underwritten by the Jamal Crawford Foundation.
December 18 - Jamal Crawford collected Christmas wishes from the seven Boys & Girls Clubs that comprise the Madison Square Boys & Girls Club and fulfilled all of them.
December 20 - Stephon Marbury hosted 20 kids from the Starbury Foundation at the NBA Store for dinner and a shopping spree.
ORLANDO MAGIC December 8 - The Orlando Magic participated in the Lift Up America initiative and distributed food, toys, and vouchers for free eye exams.
December 10 - Dwight Howard Foundation hosted the 1st Annual Prayer Breakfast for 150 high school students from Jones, Evans, Olympia, Edgewater and Oakridge High schools.
December 22 -The Steve Francis Foundation and Kelvin Cato donated books and gifts to the youth of the Dr. James R. Smith Recreation Center along with a special visit from Santa Claus.
PHILADELPHIA 76ERS December 12 - Samuel Dalembert signed autographs post-game for all those who made a donation to Sam's Toy Drive.
December 13 - Christmas came early for 18 kids from the Children's Crisis Treatment Center Philadelphia, and playing the role of Santa Claus was 76ers Forward Lee Nailon. Nailon treated the children to an all expense paid shopping spree at the Toys R Us in King of Prussia.
December 15 - The Philadelphia 76ers Allen Iverson spread some holiday cheer hosting 15 children from the Community Education Alliance of West Philadelphia after practice. Each child was treated to snacks and received a gift from Iverson himself.
December 15 - Chris Webber surprised 20 youth ranging in ages from 4 to 17 with a holiday shopping spree. When they finish shopping for themselves, they were given an opportunity to shop for their parent(s) stationed oversees serving our country. Webber will have the gifts and a card shipped to the service personnel overseas on behalf of the family.
December 20 - The team will visit the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia to deliver gifts and holiday cheer.
PHOENIX SUNS December 5 - The Suns teamed up with Lift Up America to donate food and toys to over 20 different charities and non-profits across the valley.
December 18 - Brian Grant and his wife, Gina, adopted 30 families from the Helping Hands organization in Phoenix and provided food, clothing and toys for each of the families at the Helping Hands facility.
December 19 - The entire team and the Suns wives organization hosted a special holiday party for 150 foster children from the FAAST organization (Foster Angels of Arizona Serving Together). The players and wives distributed toys collected from the Sun's toy drive and served food to the children.
December 25 - Through his foundation, Jimmy Jackson conducted a toy drive in his hometown of Toledo, OH to provide toys and food to families for Christmas.
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS December 7 - KGW NewsChannel 8, the Trail Blazers and Les Schwab teamed up for the Great Toy Drive at the Trail Blazers v. Minnesota game.
December 12 - Visions Unlimited Tree Farm in Albany, Oregon donated 1,000 Christmas trees to the Blazers Community Builders for distribution to needy families in the Portland area. The entire Trail Blazers organization participated in the annual Trail Blazers Holiday Express that included:
• Distribution of trees in partnership with organizations that service children and families identified as critically low-income.
• Distribution of tree ornaments to compliment the tree donations.
• Serving refreshments, snacks and providing live entertainment for guests throughout the day.
• Collection of food donations to benefit local underserved families.
December 30 - Blazers players will attend the Bridge Builders Kwanzaa Gala. Bridge Builders is an African American youth mentorship program.
SACRAMENTO KINGS December - Kings players and KB Home volunteers will work to create a new Reading and Learning Center at Martin Luther King, Jr. Library, including a technology donation, book donation, and reading time-out with Kings players. They will also distribute holiday boxes to families in need from all around metro Sacramento, and host a holiday party for kids who do not get to make it home for the holidays.
December 23 - Brad Miller will host a holiday shopping spree with Big Brothers & Big Sisters.
SAN ANTONIO SPURS December 6 - Manu Ginobli, Brent Barry and Rasho Nesterovic hosted the Christus Santa Rosa Children's Hospital Holiday Toy Drop.
December 22 - Fabricio Oberto dressed as Santa to deliver toys as part of the Elf Louise Holiday Toy Delivery.
December 28 - Brent Barry will host a Spurs Holiday Basketball Clinic teaching kids the fundamentals of shooting, passing and dribbling.
SEATTLE SUPERSONICS December - The Sonics partnered with local nonprofits including World Vision, Seattle Goodwill, Catholic Community Services, Hopelink, Kent Youth and Family Services, The Salvation Army and The Northwest Center to provide assistance for local kids and families in need.
December 1-15 - The entire Sonics roster, along with Head Coach Bob Weiss and Assistant Coaches Ralph Lewis and Jack Sikma, decorated holiday stockings to reflect their unique personalities. All stockings were on display at the Sonics & Storm Team Shop and fans were able to bid on the stockings with all proceeds benefiting the Sonics and Storm T.E.A.M. Foundation.
December 5 - Sonics guard Luke Ridnour visited the Union Gospel Mission with members of the Sonics Dance Team to help serve dinner to the homeless.
December 21 - Rashard Lewis will take kids from Ronald McDonald House on a shopping spree at Toys R Us.
TORONTO RAPTORS December 2 - The Raptors hosted Holiday Hoopla, a silent auction for internal staff with proceeds going to benefit Toronto City Mission, Starlight Starbright, Covenant House, Children's Aid Foundation and Ronald McDonald House
December 7 - The Raptors hosted the Festival of Trees where players and organization members decorated small Christmas trees and auctioned them off, with proceeds going to benefit United Way.
December 15 - Each player donated funds to the Raptors Foundation, which purchased gifts for the children of the Toronto City Shelter and served dinner to families.
UTAH JAZZ December 6 - The team brought holiday cheer and presents to patients at the local Children’s Hospital.
December 12 & 14 - The Jazz held a Toys for Tots Collection at the Delta Center.
WASHINGTON WIZARDS December 8 - The Wizards and the Mayor’s office of Washington, hosted a holiday party for 200 area teens from the D.C. Child and Family Services Program at Lucky Strikes Lanes.
December 10 - The Wizards hosted their annual Toys for Tots drive to benefit the Salvation Army and Family to Family.
December 14 - The team held its annual Mr. Pollin Family to Family Caravan, delivering gifts to six families throughout the metropolitan area.
December 24 - To celebrate the holiday season, Gilbert Arenas will host Gilbert's Christmas Dream, a party for children from group homes, schools and community groups.
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