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The National Basketball Association issued a second $3 million grant Monday to create economic opportunities for the Black community.
Nine organizations across the country will receive the funds to create employment and further career advancement for Black people. It was not specified how much each organization received.
Gale Nelson, president and CEO of one of the grant recipients, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami, told Coins2Day his organization will put the money toward developing its workplace mentoring as soon as this month. The mentoring pairs Black and brown high school students with corporate workers who give them career advice and let them job shadow.
“This funding ensures that boardrooms and the workforce are diverse and representative,” said Nelson.
Nelson said the grant will also help the organization continue to support its students with mentoring and professional development workshops after high school so they are ready for internships and the workplace.
Last year, the NBA committed $300 million to establish the NBA Foundation, which is dedicated to creating greater economic empowerment in the Black community. The 30 NBA team owners are collectively donating $30 million to the foundation each year for the next 10 years.
The NBA Foundation focuses on enhancing the work of national and local organizations dedicated to education and employment.
Professional sports leagues have donated money and supported the Black community since last summer’s Black Lives Matter protests following the death of George Floyd. The MLB and the NFL both pledged donations last summer meant to help the Black community.
The nine organizations that received the grants are Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami, Braven, Center for Leadership Development, City Year, CodeCrew, The Collective Blueprint, NAF, New Heights Youth, and Road to Hire.