LAS VEGAS – Dallas Mavericks guard J. J. Barea is one of three players named Wednesday as the winners of the Mannie Jackson-Basketball’s Human Spirit Award.
The award, which also went to Tina Charles and Boris Diaw, was announced by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Barea won the coveted award because of the tireless advocate work he did in his native Puerto Rico following the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria. Barea, Charles and Diaw will be recognized on Sept. 6 at the Reunion Dinner during the Enshrinement Weekend at the Hall of Fame ceremonies in Springfield, MA.
“The Mannie Jackson Award is an esteemed honor awarded only to those with the highest level of dedication to making a positive impact in the lives of others,” said John L. Doleva, the president and CEO of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. “The Basketball Hall of Fame is proud to recognize J. J. Barea, Tina Charles and Boris Diaw for the impact they have had on the national and global level.
“Our game spans the earth and so does the generosity and commitment of these three outstanding leaders.”
With the help of a plane owned by Dallas Mavericks proprietor Mark Cuban, Barea provided more than 100,000 pounds of supplies to Puerto Rico, including 14,000 pounds of water, 10,000 pounds of food, 32 generators, and 3,000 pounds of clothes, diapers, medical supplies, cleaning supplies and toiletries. Barea also launched a fund-raiser on YouCaring.com that raised over $250,000 for families who were impacted by the Hurricane Maria, and additionally he personally raised nearly $500,000 to help the needy families
“A Hall of Fame should recognize great athletes, but also the great people who are in athletics and are doing extraordinary things for their communities,” Jackson said. “I am proud to report the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Leadership continues doing an extraordinary job of identifying the “greats’ in the basketball community who do positive things for Humankind.”
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