The team owners of the NBA have
committed to collectively donating $300 million to a charity advocating
for civil rights, a move aligned with the goals of the Black Lives
Matter protests and dialogue that took center stage following the police
killing of George Floyd in May.
Reuters reports
that the donation sum will be made over the next 10 years. The funding
will be generated by each of the 30 NBA teams’ owners contributing $1
million annually over the course of the decade.
The charitable foundation in question is being launched by the NBA itself, eponymous called the NBA Foundation.
Launched on Wednesday, the NBA Foundation was started by the league’s board of governors and the players’ union to improve the Black community’s access to economic resources and empowerment.
With a heavy emphasis on education, the charity seeks “to increase
access and support for high school, college-aged and career-ready Black
men and women, and assist national and local organizations that provide
skills training, mentorship, coaching and pipeline development in NBA
markets and communities across the United States and Canada,” per the
organization’s press release.
The NBA Foundation will also work in
tandem with local affiliations, including Historically Black Colleges
and Universities (HBCUs), to provide resources that will create
internships and networking programs within Black communities.
“The
creation of this foundation is an important step in developing more
opportunities for the Black community,” said National Basketball Players
Association (NBPA) President Chris Paul in the statement. “I am proud
of our league and our players for their commitment to this long-term
fight for equality and justice, and I know we will continue to find ways
to keep pushing for meaningful institutional change.”
The NBA is the latest organization to use its resources to advance Black advocacy and civil rights. In June, Adidas
vowed to fill at least 30 percent of its vacant job positions with
workers of color and finance 50 college scholarships for Black students
every year over the next five years. The news came following employee
claims that the sportswear company continually profits off of Black
culture while not supporting it socially or economically.
Another
major donation was given to Xavier University, an HBCU located in New
Orleans by an anonymous donor later revealed to be McKenzie Scott, the
ex-wife of Jeff Bezos. Scott donated $20 million to the school, the
largest donation in its history. The money will reportedly go toward
need-based scholarships and faculty funding.
In its press
announcement, NBA leadership touches on the need for entities with
excess resources to contribute to closing the socioeconomic gap Black
Americans face due to lingering systemic racism.
“Given the
resources and incredible platform of the NBA, we have the power to
ideate, implement and support substantive policies that reflect the core
principles of equality and justice we embrace,” said NBPA Executive
Director Michele Roberts. “This Foundation will provide a framework for
us to stay committed and accountable to these principles.”
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