Congratulations to Pau Gasol for being awarded the NBA’s season long Community Assist Award for the 2011-2012 season. The league presents the Community Assist Award monthly throughout the season as well as a final award at the end of the season to recognize players for their year-round charitable efforts. The award honors the NBA player who best reflects the passion that the league and its players have for giving back to their communities. Along with the award there is a $25,000 donation made to the charity of Pau’s choice. Pau has chosen to donate the money to a local children’s hospital.
This is the second award for Pau Gasol, in the 2011-2012 season, recognizing his continued work with the community. The first award being the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award voted upon by the Professional Basketball Writers Association. This award is given to the Player or Coach that demonstrates outstanding service and dedication to the community.
Pau’s primary focus, in his charitable efforts, is on children’s education and health. He uses his status as a local, national and international sports figure to bring awareness to the needs of children on a local, national and international level. Pau lends his notoriety to established non-profit organizations with strong records of service. He takes care to understand the work and needs of the non-profit organizations and uses his multilingual eloquence to deliver their message to his millions of fans in Los Angeles and throughout the NBA’s international footprint.
Pau Gasol embodies how to be a “Champion on the Court and in the Community.”
Congratulations Pau!