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After a tough year of unprecedented and uncertain times, Miami HEAT players took time to give back and spread some holiday cheer in the South Florida community.  

HEAT Head Coach Erik Spoelstra and his family partnered with local small businesses to host gift card giveaways while matching each giveaway with a financial donation to the Miami Learning Experience School. Erik and Nikki Spoelstra donated toys, grocery store gift cards and funds to Health in the Hood, along with lunch for pre-selected families in Overtown. These families also had the opportunity to meet The Spoelstras virtually at a holiday event. Health in the Hood’s mission is to connect low-income families to healthy, free local food by transforming vacant land into vibrant vegetable gardens and teaching wellness groups. For more information, please visit HealthintheHood.org.

Bam Adebayo teamed up with SnapCrack Chiropractic to host a gift donation for the holidays which included toys, bicycles and other gifts for children between the ages of 5 – 17. Adebayo encouraged the public to join and donate gifts, as well, by entering each donor into a special raffle with the chance to win his signed memorabilia. All gifts were dropped off at the Samual K. Johnson Youth Center in Liberty City.

As part of Adebayo’s holiday initiatives, he also provided a Miami single mother of two sets of twins, Travillia Bogan, an entire year’s worth of rent to avoid eviction from her home. As part of the funds donated to Bogan, Adebayo will assist in updating her landscaping and indoor house décor.

Duncan Robinson hosted a virtual meet and greet with children from the YMCA. The Y is a leading nonprofit committed to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Every day, the Y works hard to build healthy, confident, connected and secure children, adults, families and communities through over 200 afterschool, preschool, special needs, sports, camp and youth programs, family centers, and senior health outreach sites. For more information visit, www.ymcasouthflorida.org.

Gabe Vincent hosted a holiday giveaway on his social media gifting one lucky follower with a variety of gifts including an autographed Miami HEAT City Edition Vice Wave jersey.

Jimmy Butler Virtual Surprise at Chapman Partnership

Miami HEAT partnered with the Chapman Partnership for the Homeless on their Annual Christmas Eve Party for their residents and families. Jimmy Butler surprised the families at the homeless shelter virtually to bring some happiness to their holidays. For the past 10 years, the party has created an interactive environment with music, food and surprise guests. This year’s festive endeavor allowed guests to receive gifts from their wish list while meeting donors virtually.

Kendrick Nunn hosted a digital holiday giveaway on Instagram to gift some of his fans basketball gear to celebrate the holiday season. The giveaway included a set of trivia questions to his fans via his social media account.

KZ Okpala teamed up with Operation Warm to donate 500,000 winter coats to children in his hometown of Anaheim, California.

Meyers Leonard, along with the Miami VA Healthcare System, hosted a virtual holiday gift distribution for the women’s veterans clinic. The clinic provides comprehensive health services to female veterans and transitions homeless veterans into housing and stable employment. The virtual holiday event featured 40 veteran mothers and over 100 children. Meyers and his wife, Elle Leonard, also donated approximately to $20,000 to the Armed Forces program for the American Red Cross as part of this holiday initiative.

Moe Harkless BBBS of Miami Holiday Toy and Food Distribution Drive Through

Moe Harkless partnered with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami to host a holiday toy and food distribution drive through for littles from the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami program. Harkless interacted with these children via Zoom throughout the drive through. He also donated $10,000 to the organization as part of his holiday initiative.

Tyler Herro, in conjunction with the Boys and Girls Club, surprised 10 children and their families with a holiday Zoom party and gift cards. Throughout the virtual party, the children interacted with Herro through a Q&amp;A and other virtual activities.

Udonis Haslem “Christmas for the Community” Weekend

The Udonis Haslem Children’s Foundation partnered with New Mount Olive Baptist Church to host their 2nd annual “Christmas for the Community” Weekend. The weekend festivities included a drive through toy giveaway for underprivileged families.

On December 24th , the Miami HEAT partnered with the Chapman Partnership for the Homeless on their Annual Christmas Eve Party for their residents and families. For the past 10 years, the party has createed an interactive environment with music, food and surprise guests. This year’s festive endeavor allowed guests to receive gifts from their wish list while meeting donors virtually.

heat-players-spread-holiday-cheer

HEAT Players Spread Holiday Cheer

MIAMI, June 15 – The Miami HEAT announced today that they have signed forward Luol Deng. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“Signing Luol Deng is one of the most important free agent signings that we have ever had in the history of the franchise,” said HEAT President Pat Riley. “He is a proven All-Star and quintessential team player, both as a scorer, as well as an All-NBA defender. He brings the attitude of a warrior and competes every single night against the very, very best. We are thrilled to welcome him to the HEAT family.”

Deng, a 10-year NBA veteran, has appeared in 677 career NBA regular season games (631 starts) and averaged 16.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 35.8 minutes while shooting 45.7 percent from the field, 32.9 percent from three-point range and 77.3 percent from the foul line. Among Chicago’s all-time franchise leaders, he ranks fourth in points, fifth in field goals made, sixth in games played and three-point field goals made and eighth in free throws made and offensive rebounds. The 2011-12 NBA All-Defensive Second Team honoree also ranks among the Bulls all-time franchise defensive leaders, including fifth in defensive rebounds and steals, ninth in total rebounds and 10th in blocks.

The two-time NBA All-Star split the 2013-14 season between the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers, appearing in 63 total games (all starts) and averaged 16.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 35.1 minutes while shooting 43.1 percent from the field, 30.2 percent from three-point range and 79.1 percent from the foul line. Prior to his trade to Cleveland on January 7, Deng was averaging a career-high 19.0 points per game and a career-best 3.7 assists per game. Additionally, he has appeared in 48 career postseason games (42 starts) and averaged 16.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 40.3 minutes while shooting 45.2 percent from the field and 74.9 percent from the foul line.

In addition to his accomplishments on the court, Deng is also involved in numerous charities, including the Luol Deng Foundation. For his philanthropic efforts, he earned the NBA’s 2013-14 J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award, was named the UN Refugee Agency’s 2008 Humanitarian of the Year and selected as the 2006-07 Golden Icon Best Sports Role Model. He also served as ambassador for the London 2012 Olympic Games and won the NBA’s Sportsmanship Award in 2007.

Deng, who was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team, was originally selected in the first round (7th overall) by the Phoenix Suns in the 2004 NBA Draft.

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HEAT Players Spread Holiday Cheer

HEAT Signs Luol Deng

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