NEW YORK – Dallas Mavericks center Dwight Powell has received the October NBA Cares Community Assist Award presented by Kaiser Permanente in recognition of his efforts to support families battling cancer in the greater Dallas area, 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 Powell for providing resources and relief to cancer patients and their families.  After losing his mother to breast cancer in 2012, he created the Dwight Powell Children and Family Support Fund in partnership with UT Southwestern Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center to help patients and their children cope with the hardships of cancer.  The fund offers transportation assistance, family-centered workshops about employment and insurance benefits, “legacy projects” for those facing terminal diagnoses, music therapy, expenses for school supplies, after-school care, tutoring or extracurricular activities, and meal and home cleaning services.

In October, Powell hosted “A Night of Hope” with help from Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle.  The sold-out fundraiser raised more than $600,000 for the Dwight Powell Children and Family Support Fund.  Later that week, Powell hosted families from the fund, their caregivers and hospital staff at the team’s home opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves.  Additionally, on Oct. 28, Powell addressed the crowd at the Mavericks’ Breast Health Awareness Night game against the Utah Jazz, which included many of these families and others affected by cancer.

“Much of what I’ve learned from Mark Cuban, Coach Carlisle and Dirk Nowitzki throughout the years has been about how important it is to help this community, which has given us such incredible support,” said Powell.  “I’m proud to say I’m a Maverick for that reason most of all.”

Before the Mavericks’ home game against the Boston Celtics tonight, Powell will be presented the award during an oncourt ceremony.  In addition, Kaiser Permanente and the NBA will donate $10,000 on Powell’s behalf to Champions of Discovery.

The NBA Cares Community Assist Award presented by Kaiser Permanente honors the standard set by NBA Legend David Robinson, who improved the community piece by piece.  At the end of the 2018-19 regular season, the Seasonlong NBA Cares Community Assist Award winner will be announced at the 2019 NBA Awards presented by Kia.  To learn more, please visit http://www.nba.com/communityassist/.