Dwight Powell named NBA Cares 2019-20 Community Assist Award winner

On Monday, Mavericks center Dwight Powell was announced as one of the five NBA players awarded this year’s NBA Cares Community Assist Award. Harrison Barnes of the Sacramento Kings, Chris Paul of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics, and George Hill of the Milwaukee Bucks were also selected for the award.

Kristaps Porzingis was also in consideration for his efforts in raising funds to fight child hunger.

Powell is the creator of the “Dwight Powell Children and Family Support Fund”, which is partnered with the UT Southwestern Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center to provide resources for cancer patients and their families. Last October, over $750,000 was raised for the fund at the “A Night of Hope” fundraiser.

The program has personal roots for Powell, who unexpectedly lost his mother to breast cancer in 2012.

“The game of basketball has provided me a great deal and playing in this league has always been my dream,” Powell said in a statement after receiving the award. “But more importantly, to be able to support families in their time of need and hopefully allow kids a chance to live their dreams themselves means so much more to me.”

In addition to the award, the NBA and Kaiser Permanente will give Powell $10,000 to donate to a charity of his choosing.

More information on the “Dwight Powell Children and Family Support Fund” can be found here: https://utswmed.org/cancer/support-services/dwight-powell-children-and-family-support-fund/