Four Nuggets have independently run charity foundations, and though, according to a report by The Salt Lake Tribune, many NBA players’ foundations encounter monetary hardships, the mission statement remains the same — to help others.
“We help underprivileged children in any way possible,” said Nuggets guard Dahntay Jones of the Dahntay Jones Foundation. “We build computer rooms, we hold clinics and camps, give away annual scholarships — just do anything, period, to help children who are in need.”
Jones’ foundation was started in 2005 and assists children in his hometown of Trenton, N.J., and Memphis, Tenn., where he played for the Memphis Grizzlies for four seasons. In 2006, he donated $16,000 to Greenwood Elementary in Hamilton, N.J., to help upgrade its Success for All Reading Program.
Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin started his foundation earlier this month, and it will serve youth in Denver, Cincinnati (where Martin played college basketball) and his hometown of Dallas. The foundation is managed by the Giving Back Foundation.
Carmelo Anthony has operated the Carmelo Anthony Foundation since 2005. His “A Very Melo Christmas” events in Denver and Baltimore and Anthony’s H.O.O.D. Movement weekend in Baltimore, which features a 3-on-3 basketball tournament, are some of the most popular events run by NBA players.
Nuggets guard and Colorado native Chauncey Billups entered into a partnership with Regis University men’s basketball coach Lonnie Porter in 2006 to take what was then the Lonnie Porter Leadership Academy and turn it into the Porter-Billups Leadership Academy. A September gala this year raised $225,000. Porter’s daughter, Staci, is director of the Porter-Billups Leadership Academy, according to the foundation’s website.
Former Nugget Marcus Camby has the Cambyland Foundation, which sponsors events in Denver. Camby plays for the Los Angeles Clippers.
Jones’ foundation provides $5,000 scholarships as well as other activities and services. Though his is among many groups that have reportedly struggled in recent years, he vows to stay the course.
“It’s important to me because I’m blessed to be able to do something I love, and get paid a great amount,” Jones said. “I just want to help other people who are not in the same position as I am. There were guys every bit as talented as me, but never had the resources or the opportunity that I did. And I’m just trying to help other people achieve their goals also.”
Chris Dempsey: 303-954-1279 or cdempsey@denverpost.com
