The Dallas Mavericks joined together on Wednesday, Sept. 11, to participate in a significant National Day of Service.
The volunteer efforts of 150-plus Mavs staff, including CEO Cynt Marshall and the newly signed Quentin Grimes, totaled over 300 combined hours of community service, approximately 200 shelf-stable food items collected, and 1,575 community members impacted.
“Sept. 11 is an important day to so many of us in this country because it was a day that our wonderful nation was attacked,” said Marshall. “When you think about how we responded and how we all came together on that dreadful day 23 years ago, I love that we are still coming together on 9/11 in service and unity, and that’s what the Mavericks are all about.”
Wednesday marked the fifth Dallas Mavericks all-staff day of service, which kickstarts the team’s season-long goal of accumulating 2,000 staff volunteer hours.
The 2024 service project focused on food insecurity.
A study published by Feeding America this summer highlighted the alarming rates of food insecurity in Texas, with children accounting for 20% of those affected.
Local food bank officials in the North Texas region say approximately one of every eight people rely on their life-sustaining services.
“This time of year, as students are back in school and the holiday season is around the corner, food insecurities become evident,” said Hannah Turner, senior director of corporate social responsibility & executive director of the Mavs Foundation. “By partnering with organizations working together to serve East Dallas, we are able to touch a variety of neighborhoods and people that need us during this time.”
While at these sites, team members were assigned various duties to help operations. Tasks included assisting neighbors with registration and shopping, re-stocking shelves, sorting food, packing grab bags and general organization.
“Community is important to me because they’re the people that are there for us all year long,” said Quentin Grimes, one of the Mavericks’ off-season acquisitions. “To be able to help people in need and put a smile on their faces always puts a smile on my face.”
In addition to the helping hands offered, each location was presented with a $5,000 donation on behalf of the Mavs Foundation. Staff also participated in a food drive to fulfill specific wish-list requests for each of the four sites.
“Our shirts say, ‘Mavs Care,’” said Marshall. “What I hope people take away from our day of service is that we really do care. We don’t just work here, we don’t just play here, but we live here too, and this is our community.
“We love these people. They’re not just fans to us, they are human beings, and we want to be a part of the solution to the issues they face daily.”
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