Al Harrington made his presence felt in the community upon arriving in Oakland. (Jeff Carlick/NBAE/Getty)

Al Harrington has been a prominent figure in the Oakland community since his arrival in January, from teaching kids basketball fundamentals to feeding those in need.

Harrington helped orchestrate one of Feed the Children’s largest food distributions at Allen Temple Baptist Church in Oakland, CA. He is committed to the mission of Feed the Children, providing food and other necessities to children and families in an effort to change their lives for the better. Harrington purchased three 18-wheeler truckloads of food and toiletries for over 1,500 families and children from organizations including St. Mary’s Gardens- Senior Home and the Faith Fellowship Church.

“I feel as a professional athlete, it is my responsibility to give back to the communities that support me,” said Harrington. “There are so many hungry families that can’t afford to feed their children and I am glad to be able to help.”

Following his trade from Indiana, Harrington introduced himself as one of the newest Warriors during a team autograph session, signing items for fans and community organizations and thanking them for their support. Harrington also made a surprise visit to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School after-school program, teaching the students the fundamentals of the game.

Two days after his trade from Indiana, Harrington made a surprise visit to an Oakland elementary school. (Jeff Carlick/NBAE/Getty)

As the recipient of the NBA Community Assist Award, Harrington will receive the David Robinson Plaque with the inscription, “Following the standard set by NBA Legend David Robinson who improved the community piece by piece.” In addition to the plaque, a $5,000 donation will be given to Feed the Children on behalf of Harrington.

The league presents the NBA Community Assist Award monthly to recognize players for their charitable efforts. The award honors the NBA player who reflects the passion that the league and its players have for giving back to their communities.

NBA Cares is the league's social responsibility initiative that builds on the NBA's long tradition of addressing important social issues in the United States and around the world. During the first year of NBA Cares, teams, current and former players, and the league office contributed 250,000 hours of hands-on service to the community, raised more than $40 million for charity, and created 146 places where kids and families can live, learn or play. NBA Cares works with internationally-recognized youth-serving programs that support education, youth and family development, and health-related causes, including: UNICEF; Reading Is Fundamental; Habitat for Humanity; Boys & Girls Clubs of America; Feed the Children, Special Olympics, KaBOOM!, Make-A-Wish Foundation, and many others.