Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry was named the recipient of the 2023 J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award by the Professional Basketball Writers Association on Thursday.
Here’s what you need to know:
Curry earned the award for his efforts that “include promoting youth literacy, fitness and nutrition and fostering gender equity in sports.”
He beat out other finalists in Los Angeles Lakers center Wenyen Gabriel, Los Angeles Clippers forward Paul George and Boston Celtics forward Grant Williams.
“The Stephen & Ayesha Curry’s Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation has helped thousands of children in Oakland, Calif., building playgrounds across the city, promoting literacy and distributing meals and produce,” a media release by the PBWA said. “The foundation hosted more than 1,000 children from various community organizations at an Oakland Athletics game last summer, in an event that promoted movement, exercise and literacy.”
Curry’s foundation also hosted more than 500 Oakland families as part of the 10th annual Christmas with the Currys.
The 35-year-old guard averaged 29.4 points, 6.3 assists and 6.1 rebounds per game this season for Golden State.
Since the Warriors moved to San Francisco — which was followed by a pandemic and social justice movement — Curry has really ramped up his off-the-court efforts. He and his wife, Ayesha, launched the Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation and have expanded its work annually. Much of their efforts is focused in Oakland’s underserved and under-resourced populations, addressing food security and literacy issues exacerbated by COVID-19. Their big event, Christmas with the Currys, which started as a food giveaway years ago, exploded into a massive event this year with 500 families being treated to a multitude of free resources.
Another pillar of Curry’s philanthropic arm is his “Underrated” campaign. In addition to providing exposure opportunities to three-star and lower recruits, Curry has given a platform to girls basketball prospects and golfers from underrepresented communities. His outreach includes funding the Division I program at Howard University.
