Skip to content
Sixers
Link copied to clipboard
Link copied to clipboard

Sixers’ Joel Embiid is honored for his generosity with the NBA Cares Community Assist Award for March

Embiid will be recognized during Monday night’s home game against the Golden State Warriors.

Sixers center Joel Embiid's biggest assists come off the court.
Sixers center Joel Embiid's biggest assists come off the court.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer

Remember when Joel Embiid announced the day before the March 7 NBA All-Star Game that he would combat homelessness in Philly with a $100,000 contribution to three local organizations?

Well, the NBA does.

On Monday, the league announced that Embiid received the NBA Cares Community Assist Award for March.

» READ MORE: Being top seed in Eastern Conference is a must for Sixers

After being named an All-Star for the fourth consecutive time, Embiid donated his All-Star Game earnings to Philly-based organizations Youth Service Inc., Project HOME and Sunday Breakfast Mission. In addition, he provided 15,000 meals to people in need, 4,000 clothing items, medical treatment for 1,000 housing insecure individuals, access to a six-week summer camp for 50 homeless youth, and shelter for more than 300 teenagers dealing with housing insecurity.

Embiid also provided gifts, clothing, groceries, and rent relief for the next year for five families impacted by COVID-19.

Embiid was recognized during Monday night’s home game against the Golden State Warriors. In addition, Kaiser Permanente, which sponsors the award, and the NBA will donate $10,000 on Embiid’s behalf to Covenant House Pennsylvania.

» READ MORE: The Sixers’ Matisse Thybulle is feeling comfortable on both ends of the court | Off the Dribble

“I am humbled to be recognized as the recipient of the NBA Cares Community Assist Award,” Embiid said in a statement. “It has always been incredibly important for me to use the platform I have been given to create positive change. Housing insecurity and homelessness affect so many in our communities, and we need to come together, now more than ever, to support one another.

“I am proud to support organizations like Covenant House Pennsylvania that are working every day to provide essential resources and services.”

» READ MORE: Can the Sixers beat healthy, elite teams? This might be the week we find out. | David Murphy

Embiid, along with Sixers managing partners Josh Harris and David Blitzer, donated $1.3 million to Penn Medicine for antibody testing of frontline health-care workers in the last year. He also gave $500,000 through the #FirstRespondersFirst campaign to provide personal protective equipment to frontline workers.