Stack received some congratulatory hi-fives from some young fans in attendance. Peyton Williams/Wizards Photos

Washington Wizards’ guard Jerry Stackhouse is the recipient of the NBA Community Assist Award for the month of May. An eight-year NBA veteran, Stackhouse joined the Wizards this past season and made an immediate impact on the Washington, D.C. community, and will become only the second NBA player to receive the Community Assist Award twice (he received the award in October 2001 while with the Detroit Pistons). Stackhouse will be presented this weekend with the David Robinson Plaque at HealthFest 2003, the world’s largest Biotechnology Industry event in recognition of his community outreach.

Stackhouse has been particularly involved in the area of diabetes research, an issue that affects him personally. He has lost two sisters to complications of the disease and both of his parents are currently living with diabetes. In honor of his many community contributions, the Washington, D.C. Father’s Day Council named Stackhouse the 2003 Father of the Year at their recent annual dinner. In partnership with the American Diabetes Association, the National Father’s Day Council has raised close to $4 million over the past 18 years for diabetes research.

In addition, last month Stackhouse presented the George and Minnie Stackhouse Scholarships at his former high school, Kinston High in Kinston, NC in honor of his parents for the second consecutive year. At the school’s senior awards ceremony, he bestowed the need-based scholarships to students from the men’s and women’s basketball teams who were in good academic standing and display positive citizenship at all times.

Stackhouse has also established the Triple Threat Foundation to focus on raising awareness about the seriousness of diabetes. Founded in May 2002, the foundation ensures that funds are available for continued research, care and clinics as well as education and awareness programs related to diabetes. The foundation works with the Joslin Center in Boston, MA to provide young people with the activities, products and resources they need to lead an active and healthy life.

“I want to help people because I think it’s the right thing to do,” Stackhouse said. “When people come up to me and say thanks, it tells me I’m touching people in a positive way. I have been blessed with so much that it wouldn’t be right if I did not pass my blessings on to others. That’s what we’re all supposed to do.”