– Brunson Hosted Holiday Gift Giving Events, Shopping Sprees and Fulfilled Wishes During NBA’s Season of Giving –
– NBA to Donate $10,000 to Second Round Foundation –
NEW YORK, January 24, 2025 – The NBA today announced New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson as the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award winner for the month of December. During the NBA’s Season of Giving, which runs from late November through December, Brunson hosted holiday gift giving events, shopping sprees and fulfilled the wishes of two children from Make-A-Wish Metro NY and Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley. Brunson will receive the David Robinson trophy, and the NBA will donate $10,000 to the Second Round Foundation – an organization that creates equity for young people through education, sport and community.
During NBA Season of Giving, Brunson and the Second Round Foundation partnered with DREAM Charter Schools to bring cheer to students during the holiday season. As a part of this effort, Brunson co-hosted two Family Dinner and Game Night events for nearly 500 DREAM students and their families. Families received food baskets with fresh produce and non-perishable food items ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday. The events also promoted the Scratch Food Program, which focuses on improving school meals and encouraging healthy eating habits. Brunson and the Second Round Foundation also purchased 250 winter coats for DREAM students from Manhattan’s East Harlem and Mott Haven and Highbridge campuses in the Bronx.
Brunson along with the Garden of Dreams Foundation also hosted 20 single mothers from the Covenant House in the Bronx for a holiday shopping spree experience. Each mother received $550 in Target gift cards to purchase gifts and necessities.
The New York Knicks hosted their Garden of Dreams Night on December 5th and invited two children from Make-A-Wish to participate. The two boys, undergoing medical challenges, had a wish to meet Brunson and attend a Knicks game. Brunson spent time with both boys and provided words of encouragement. The boys also served as an honorary Knicks Player and an honorary Knicks Coach for the game.
“I’m humbled and honored to receive the Community Assist Award for the month of December,” said Brunson. “The greatest gift the game has given me has been the ability to give back to those in need through the Second Round Foundation. This award further motivates me to serve the communities that mean so much to me and to highlight those who deserve support, regardless of their circumstances.”
Brunson will be recognized in-arena as the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award winner during the Kings-Knicks game on Jan. 25. New York Knicks President Leon Rose and a youth representative from the Covenant House will present him with the award.
The NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award honors Bob Lanier, an NBA League Office executive and NBA Cares Ambassador for more than 30 years. He had an enormous influence on the NBA family and young people globally, traveling the world to teach the values of the game and making a positive impact through his kindness and generosity. The legacy he built will continue to live on through the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award recognition, which honors the next generation of players’ commitment to positively impacting their community throughout the NBA season. Over the course of each NBA season, there is an offseason winner followed by seven monthly award winners. The offseason winner receives the Bob Lanier trophy, and each monthly winner receives the David Robinson trophy. The NBA also makes a donation to the charity or foundation of the player’s choice. To learn more, please visit https://communityassist.nba.com/.