NBPA Foundation Uses Proceeds from the 2019-2020 Season Restart Jersey Auction to Support Select Voting Organizations and Initiatives

The NBPA Foundation is pleased to announce that $250,000 of the total proceeds from the 2019-2020 NBA season restart jersey auction will be used to support 18 different organizations around the country that are working to increase voter turnout and combat voter suppression.

Additionally, the NBPA Foundation Board of Directors has elected to donate an additional $100,000 to the Civil Rights Voting Hotline (1-866-OUR-VOTE), which is dedicated to fielding real-time questions from voters who are having issues at the polls. The hotline is managed by the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights and is supported by a non-partisan coalition of 200+ civil rights organizations including the Legal Defense Fund, NAACP, ACLU and others.

As part of a commitment to take collective action and promote social justice, the NBA and NBPA agreed to auction off all game-worn jerseys from the opening weekend of the 2019-2020 NBA season restart with the proceeds to go to the newly-established Players’ Justice Fund. Administered by the NBPA Foundation, the Players’ Justice Fund will be managed by a player advisory committee and will use the remaining funds from the auction to support organizations whose programming and activities advance the cause of social justice, civic engagement and more.

The NBPA Foundation will distribute the $250,000 to the following organizations for immediate support of their operations:

• Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Atlanta (GA)
• Black Male Voter Project (GA)
• Black Voters Matter Fund (National)
• Citizen Detroit (MI)
• Cleveland Votes (OH)
• Common Cause (NC)
• Florida Rights Restoration Coalition (FL)
• FreedomBloc (OH)
• Live Free (CA)
• New Era Colorado (CO)
• New Florida Majority (FL)
• One Arizona (AZ)
• One Voice Mississippi (MS)
• Pennsylvania Voice (PA)
• Sophia Waukesha (WI)
• VoterDrive Cle (OH)
• Wisconsin Voices’ African American Roundtable (WI)
• World Central Kitchen (National)

“The players have been using their platform to push for change but real change would not be possible without the tireless work of leaders and organizers across the country,” said Sherrie Deans, Executive Director of the NBPA Foundation. “We are proud to support their efforts as they work to ensure that we live up to our democratic ideals and ensure that everyone can exercise their right to vote.”

“Following the example the players have set these past few months, we recognize the importance of voter turnout and education in this election,” said Ray Allen, former player and current member of the NBPA Foundation’s Board of Directors. “We are thrilled to give this support to these organizations that are providing critical resources and information around voting to the people in their communities.”

”Cleveland VOTES is incredibly grateful to the NBPAF for their commitment and investment in advancing equitable civic engagement,” said Erika Anthony, Co-Founder of Cleveland Votes. “Elevating the importance of the upcoming Election in the midst of a global pandemic has proven challenging, but the Cleveland VOTES team has been encouraged, inspired and motivated by organizations such as the NBPAF who stand in solidarity with us"

“These resources will be used to help our network of volunteers make calls to thousands of Mississippi voters to make them aware of the voting process on Election Day, the absentee voting process and our toll-free number to call for polling place information and issues (888-601-VOTE),” said Nsombi Lambright, Executive Director for One Voice Mississippi. “We are grateful to the NBPA Foundation for this additional support, especially as we get closer to the Election Day.”

Please direct all media inquiries to communications@nbpa.com.

About the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) Foundation:

Established in 1997, The National Basketball Players Association Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the legacy of its members and providing support and assistance to persons, communities and organizations throughout the world that seek to improve the lives of those in need. Through grants that match players’ philanthropy and charitable giving, the Foundation highlights and accelerates the real and collaborative work that basketball players do worldwide to build their communities and create meaningful change.