For Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving, reaching out to lend a helping hand to assist others in their time of need has always been
second nature.
From helping total strangers who are enduring a financial hardship, to delivering Snacks of Kindness to those in need, Irving is the consummate Santa Claus who constantly delivers presents of hope to recipients year-round.
Last month Irving had an “11 Days of Giving” initiative, which served meals and handed out gift packages with special ANTA gear to hundreds of families to three Dallas community organizations – Texas Native Health, Family Compass and Bachman Lake Together.
The Mavs and Ruthie’s For Good delivered Snacks of Kindness to the aforementioned three groups, with high hopes of bringing some sense of joy, pleasure and happiness.
Meanwhile, the Texas Native Health organization is clearly dear to Irving’s heart since his mother – she was African American and Lakota – died of 
an illness when he was just four years old.
“We are so grateful for our Lakota brother for stepping up, showing love and helping our community,” said Jeremy Zahn, who works in the Community Relations department with Texas Native Health. “Having Kyrie here in Dallas is so meaningful because it lifts indigenous voices and brings light to our struggles, situations and stories.
“Kyrie helps us bring awareness to who we are and what we look like.”
Bringing awareness to the less fortunate has always been a great part of Irving’s makeup. And it’s part of what makes him tick.
“All I can say is wow,” said Ona Foster, the chief executive officer of Family Compass. “We’ve hosted an annual Holiday Party for many years now and having the support of Kyrie Irving and the Dallas Mavericks made it extra special.
“The best part of this event to me was seeing the entire community come together for a good cause – from the many volunteers, to our dedicated Family Compass staff, to the Dallas Mavericks team and, of course, the wonderful Ruthie’s crew. Everybody played a different role and that is the
beauty in diversity.”
From Irving’s perspective, the beauty is that because of the important doors that have been opened to him due to his NBA career, he has been afforded the opportunity to help numerous charities and people across the globe. And he has used his fame to shine a light on several causes, including in China, where he spent some time this past summer.
“I appreciate the love I get here and also the love I get internationally,” Irving said. “I spent quite some time in China and I still remember my first trip when I went over there and I got to see some of my peers receive that same love from Asia or China, or traveling just around internationally.
“It just goes to show you that basketball unites a lot of people, the sport unites a lot of people, and also what we stand for off the court also unites a lot of people.”
Irving’s “11 Days of Giving” lasted from Dec. 11-21 and included him purchasing and donating 111 tickets and over $1,000 in meals for families across the Dallas/Fort Worth area to attend a Mavericks’ game.
Also, the women’s basketball team at Paul Quinn College – Dallas’ lone HBCU – received Anta sneakers, thanks to Irving. And throughout the United 
States, Irving provided funding and gear in the areas of Standing Rock, West Orange and the Bronx.
In addition, Irving provided scholarships to graduates of White Shields – a Native American community in North Dakota. And money also was raised for Newark Public Schools through the Her Kai & I brand.
Of his philanthropic work, Irving said: “I don’t take any of these moments for granted. I’m getting older in this league. I’m grateful I can still be healthy and still have an impact out there and continue to get better.
“I feel like the support system is growing with me. So, I just want to see it get bigger, and when I’m done playing this game I can look back and say I did it my way and I had some great supporters along the way that were there for me from whatever year they came along.”
Earlier last year, Irving donated approximately $2 million toward several GoFundMe initiatives. That includes donating $45,000 to an orphanage in West Africa that will help provide clean drinking water for 351 students at a local school, and 30 orphans will receive books, backpacks, shoes and uniforms.
For his part, Irving is aware that the young NBA players are watching the tireless work he puts forth and the warm heart he has exhibited while he’s being aboard this life-long journey of helping others prosper in life.
“Me and my family have done it when you’re talking about reaching the pinnacle and putting in a lot of hard work and a lot of sacrifices
that no one really gets to appreciate or understand until your career is over,” Irving said. “I’m just grateful that I have some young (NBA players) that can pay it forward.
“I know they’re consistently watching me, so I don’t take it lightly in terms of responsibility of being a young OG out here and helping them off the court more than on the court. That’s pretty much where I stand when I’m talking to them.”
And because of Irving’s seamless ability to reach out and help others both with his time and with his finances, he has been nominated by the Mavs for the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award. To that end, Irving said: “Just appreciate the life you have. Life is going to change. People around you are going to change. Don’t let this money change you, don’t let this fame change you, don’t let anything in this business externally change you internally. Just continue to mature.
“And it’s a heckuva of a life. Being 19 years old and getting drafted to the NBA (in 2011 as the No. 1 overall pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers) you’re in an adult world, a very mature world and you’re expected to be something of an image or something of what everyone else wants you.
“I had to mature past those phases in my life. I had to outgrow them. So now that I’m able to speak on it and be vulnerable with it, I think it brings us closer together.”
X: @DwainPrice
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