Chris Paul earns April's NBA Cares Community Assist Award for charity work
Chris Paul does good work on and off the court, and on Monday, he was honored for the latter.
Paul earned the April NBA Cares Community Assist Award for his charitable contributions, including advocacy, philanthropy and work in the community.
"I learned at an early age that you can make a major difference in someone's life by supporting your community," Paul said in a statement. "Community service is not something I have to do, it's something I want to do. While donating money is important, it is also important to be visible in the community and sharing time with people so that they know you care."
Paul will be presented with a plaque in his honor before the Clippers-Spurs Game 2 Wednesday at Staples Center. Paul and the NBA will donate $10,000 to The Chris Paul Family Foundation.
During the season, Paul has almost weekly events in the community through his Chris Paul Family Foundation, which he started 10 years ago.
This past season, he donated gift cards with his friend, Kevin Hart, at a Toys R Us for underprivileged children before Christmas. Paul has gone to the Salvation Army Seimon Family Youth & Community Center several times and helped renovate the library, computer room and exercise room. He helped refurbish a Boys & Girls Club in Watts, too.
A few weeks ago, Paul officiated a basketball game and chatted with Special Olympians before this summer's LA 2015 World Games, of which he'll lend his time.
He met teenager Jack Gallagher in Cleveland, who had lost his mom to cancer. The two had an emotional meeting before the game, and Paul gave him basketball shoes and his time.
Paul donates scholarships, and his wife, Jada, recently held her third annual event for a prom dress giveaway for 130 girls.
