NEW YORK– Washington Wizards point guard John Wall has received the October NBA Cares Community Assist Award presented by Kaiser Permanente in recognition of his support and dedication to youth, the NBA announced today.  The award recognizes an NBA player each month who best reflects the passion that the league and its players share for giving back to their communities.

Kaiser Permanente and the NBA are honoring Wall for his many charitable efforts to positively impact the lives of children in Washington, D.C., and his hometown of Raleigh, N.C.  After losing a friend, 5-year-old DaMiyah Telemaque-Nelson, to Burkitt’s lymphoma, Wall made a generous donation toward non-Hodgkin lymphoma research.  He also sponsored the “Miyah’s Troupe” walking team, and joined DaMiyah’s family in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Light the Night Walk in D.C.

In addition to supporting DaMiyah’s family this preseason, Wall held his annual #2SQUAD Back to School distribution, providing new backpacks filled with school supplies to 600 students from Raleigh and D.C.  In partnership with the John Wall Family Foundation, Wall funded the Passport to Manhood Program at the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Washington, which uses interactive activities and service projects to teach adolescent boys responsibility, leadership and the importance of giving back.  Wall also visited D.C.’s Bright Beginnings Inc. (BBI), a non-profit that provides shelter, education and meals to homeless children and their parents.  Wall surprised BBI with a donation to support existing programming and the opening of a new facility.

“I was not put on this earth just to be a basketball player,” said Wall.  “I’m blessed to have the opportunity to help those who are less fortunate, and support them in any way I can.”

During tonight’s home game against the Milwaukee Bucks, NBA Cares Ambassador Bob Lanier, Owner and CEO of Monumental Sports & Entertainment Ted Leonsis and a Kaiser Permanente representative will present Wall with the David Robinson award during an oncourt ceremony.  In addition, Kaiser Permanente and the NBA will donate $10,000 on Wall’s behalf to the John Wall Family Foundation.

To learn more, please visit http://www.nba.com/communityassist/.