Utah Jazz Continue to 'Pass It Along' in the Community
The Utah Jazz are rocking the hardwood with four straight wins, but their community work with programs like the Pass It Along initiative sets them apart.
So the Utah Jazz are playing some good basketball lately. Following a four-game losing streak, the team has George Hill back in the fold and are quickly climbing the standings in the Western Conference once again. As good as that is, though, the organization’s work in the community is what keeps it in a class all its own.
Last season, the Jazz and their partner organizations teamed up to donate nearly $300,000 to different causes. The work continues this season; just this month, Hill, the Jazz and CenturyLink launched an effort to collect canned/boxed food and toys for the holiday season. This is just one of a myriad of ongoing programs.
The latest example of the team’s charitable efforts is the continuation of the Pass It Along initiative, announced this week.
In conjunction with Mountain America Credit Union, the Jazz “Pass It Along” to the community by rewarding local charitable organizations with $5,000 each. One organization will be recognized with a donation each month, from November to March, for a total of $25,000 being donated to five organizations.
During the 2015-16 NBA campaign, a total of $30,000 was donated to local non-profits through Pass It Along initiative. Last year’s recipients included Neighborhood House, National Ability Center, Utah Honor Flight, Kauri Sue Hamilton School, Intermountain Healing Hearts and the Bradley Center.
Welcome Paiute youth from Cedar City and Richfield. Recipients of @MountainAmerica "Pass It Along" award. Joined by @1041straight. #HOUatUTA pic.twitter.com/Z2Oe8gtTKt
— Utah Jazz Doing Good (@JazzDoingGood) November 30, 2016
This month, it was the Paiute Tribe of Utah Native Youth Program that won the donation. The program serves to encourage Native American youth to dream big, while providing support to prevent destructive behaviors. They received their $5,000 donation before Utah’s game against the Houston Rockets on Tuesday.
In addition to the donation, the youth from the Paiute Tribe of Utah Native Youth Program toured Vivint Arena and shot hoops on the Jazz court before attending the second day of the 2016 Utah Jazz Summer League.
Jazz President Steve Starks had this to say about the initiative —
“The Utah Jazz are proud to continue the ‘Pass It Along’ initiative with Mountain America Credit Union. Since the program’s inception, $80,000 has been donated to non-profits doing great work in our community. We look forward to rewarding five more organizations this season.”
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Fans can nominate local community organizations and charitable groups for going above and beyond at www.utahjazz.com/passitalong.
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