NEW YORK, May 5 -- Dikembe Mutombo of the Philadelphia 76ers has been named the winner of the 2001 J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award, presented by the Professional Basketball Writers Association.

On-court highlights of Dikembe Mutombo: 28.8+ | ISDN+

The award, named for the second commissioner of the NBA and presented annually since 1975, honors exemplary community service.

Mutombo, a native of Congo (formerly Zaire), created the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation to assist with efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to his homeland and frequently traveled to the Congo as part of his ongoing efforts to build a 300-bed hospital in the capital of Kinshasa. He has donated $3 million to start construction of the $44 million facility, and donated $250,000 worth of medical supplies and 40 beds to existing hospitals.

He has been honored by the NAACP, ABC, Tulsa Rotary Club and The Sporting News for his efforts in the community, received the President's Service Award, the highest civilian award for volunteer service, served as an international spokesman for CARE and was the first Youth Emissary for the United National Development Program. He is active in Strong STARTS (Schools Taking Action to Reach Troubled Students) and the NBA's TeamUp program. He and his wife Rose have two children and have adopted four.

Others nominated this season included Sean Elliott, Steve Kerr and David Robinson of the San Antonio Spurs, Jim Jackson of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Alonzo Mourning of the Miami Heat.

Previous winners include Brian Grant, Steve Smith, P.J. Brown, Chris Dudley, Joe Dumars, Terry Porter, Magic Johnson, Kevin Johnson, Doc Rivers and Isiah Thomas.

The PBWA is an international organization of writers and/or editors who regularly cover professional basketball. Sam Smith of the Chicago Tribune is the president.