David Robinson, Chase Invest Sweat, Equity To Rebuild New Orleans One House At A Time

NEW ORLEANS.- Known for his leadership on the basketball court and in the community, David Robinson is teaming up with Chase to improve communities, starting with the building of two Habitat for Humanity houses in New Orleans. The build will take place Friday as part of the NBA Cares All-Star Day of Service.

The homes also lay the foundation for future collaboration between JPMorgan Chase -- known for both its Chase and JPMorgan brands -- and Robinson through his soon-to-be-formed Admiral Capital Group.

A crew that will include Robinson, 60 Chase employees and other NBA volunteers will work on the two houses, with the bank and Robinson footing the $170,000 construction costs. The homes build on Chase’s commitment to the Central City neighborhood, where the bank has concentrated much of its philanthropic efforts in New Orleans.

“Throughout my career, I’ve seen how much the NBA family has done for the community, and I am honored to participate in projects that help the people of New Orleans rebuild their lives, ” Robinson said. “I am also honored to have a partner like Chase, which has demonstrated a tremendous commitment to supporting communities and people in need. We want to show the people of New Orleans that we haven’t forgotten about them.”

During Friday’s NBA Cares All-Star Day of Service, more than 2,500 members of the NBA Family -- including current and former players, business and media partners, and guests -- will roll up their sleeves and participate in a variety of service projects throughout the city.

“This Habitat project will create new homes for two families, who will be working side by side with us on the site,” said Kim Davis, president of the JPMorgan Chase Foundation. “It also launches a promising new partnership between David and Chase. Taking a leadership position in collaborations of this type and caliber is part of our mission of corporate responsibility.”

Robinson is partnering with Daniel Bassichis, a fellow board member of The Carver Academy and formerly of Goldman Sachs, to form the private equity firm Admiral Capital Group. Admiral’s founders and JPMorgan Chase share the belief that giving back is integral to success in business.

“It’s a privilege to be working with JPMorgan Chase for such a worthy cause,” Bassichis said. “David and I look forward to working closely with JPMorgan Chase and other major organizations to expand our positive impact on communities.”

Robinson’s most significant community achievement was the founding of The Carver Academy (www.thecarveracademy.org) in 2001. With his wife, Valerie, Robinson has committed more than $11 million, one of the largest contributions ever by a professional athlete. An inner-city San Antonio school, The Carver Academy serves a socio-economically and culturally diverse mix of students from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade.

Robinson, a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, served in the U.S. Navy prior to this NBA career, earning him the nickname “The Admiral.” Robinson played in 10 All-Star games and won NBA championships with the San Antonio Spurs in 1999 and 2003.

In recognition of Robinson’s outstanding civic contributions, the NBA renamed its award for outstanding charitable efforts. Each month, the NBA’s Community Assist Award recognizes a player’s charitable efforts with the David Robinson Plaque, which is inscribed: “Following the standard set by NBA Legend David Robinson, who improved the community piece by piece.”