Throughout the month of February the Minnesota Timberwolves are celebrating Black History Month by honoring leaders who are making a difference in the community.
Prior to Saturday night’s Timberwolves game versus the Portland Trail Blazers, the organization honored Patwin Lawrence, who is the Board President of The Council on Black Minnesotans. The council works to strengthen local communities and supports black Minnesotans across the state.
“It felt great being out there especially being honored because The Council, we do a lot of work for the community,” Lawrence said. “We are an advisory council to the governor, the legislature and state agencies on issues that impact the black community in Minnesota. So it feels great to be recognized for the work that we do.”
The organization hosts Day on the Hill where it mobilizes 1,000 people to the state capital to rally and show support for the council’s submitted legislative bills. Additionally, the council collaborates with the Minnesota Humanities Center to create new programs and events that celebrate and preserve the artistic, historical and cultural heritages of the state’s black community.
Timberwolves General Manager Milt Newton presented Patwin with a Timberwolves autographed basketball.
In the past year, the Minnesota Timberwolves FastBreak Foundation and the Minnesota Lynx Foundation have combined to impact 2,028 organizations with $750,000 in-kind donations, 60,000 Tickets for Kids donations, 4,226 volunteer hours, 45 Heroes in the Making on-court presentations and fourteen $5,000 grants.