The New York Knicks have announced The Perez Family, of Brooklyn, NY, as this month's Sweetwater Clifton "City Spirit" Award recipients for volunteering their services to nonprofit organizations that benefit children facing life threatening obstacles. The award, presented by ZTE USA, is named in honor of Basketball Hall-of-Famer Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton, the first African-American to play for the Knicks, recognizes individuals who have made a significant difference in the lives of others. Each month a winner is chosen by members of the Knicks front office staff and honored at center court during a Knicks game with a $2,000 donation in his or her name made out to a charity of their choice.
In September 2014 The Perez Family lost their 13-year-old son and brother, Nicolas after he fought a three-year battle with brain cancer. The Perez Family wanted to give back to the same organizations that helped make Nicolas' life memorable by assisting families who are experiencing the similar pain and struggles of having a child with serious illnesses and disabilities. The family volunteers with “The Starlight Children's Foundation,” “The Children's Brain Tumor Foundation” and “The Garden of Dreams Foundation.” In April 2015, the family created “The Nicolas Perez Memorial Scholarship” to promote Pediatric Cancer Awareness and award graduating eighth-grade students from Nicolas' middle school, MS 442 Carroll Gardens School for Innovation, with scholarships to help them prepare for high school.