Magic guard Cole Anthony receives NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award for outstanding service in October

The NBA has named Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony as the recipient of the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award for the month of October. Anthony has been honored for his dedicated efforts in promoting youth health and wellness, including hosting a financial literacy workshop, organizing fundraising events, and conducting youth basketball clinics. In recognition of his outstanding contributions, Anthony will be presented with the prestigious David Robinson trophy, and the NBA will donate $10,000 to his charitable organization, the 50 Ways Foundation.

Each year Anthony gives back to the place he grew up, New York.  Before the start of the season, Anthony hosted his fifth annual charity weekend in Harlem.  As part of the weekend, Anthony held his second “The Playbook” event, bringing together some of New York City’s top high school basketball players for a workshop focused on building financial literacy.  Anthony participated on a panel with financial professionals to discuss the importance of saving and budgeting, strengthening one’s credit score, hiring the right financial advisors and how to navigate Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) opportunities.  In addition to “The Playbook,” Anthony hosted a free basketball clinic for local youth, donated over 500 backpacks for students and held a charity Pro-Am game at The Harlem Police Athletic League over the weekend.

Anthony, along with the Orlando Magic team, hosted nearly 3,200 fourth and fifth graders at Kia Center as part of the Magic and Orange County Public Schools’ (OCPS) annual Pick, Read and Roll event.  During the event, Anthony motivated the students to pursue academic success and emphasized the importance of reading.  Anthony also recognized 150 students for their outstanding accomplishments in reading during the previous school year.  OCPS data shows, students who participate in the Pick, Read and Roll event experience a 30% increase in their reading scores, further demonstrating the impact that Anthony and the Orlando Magic had as a result of the event.

During the summer, Anthony also supported two local events in Central Florida through his 50 Ways Foundation.  Anthony’s foundation supported City of Orlando District 6 Commissioner Bakari Burn’s Back to School Bash at the Dr. James R. Smith Neighborhood Center by providing essential back to school items for more than 500 youth.  Additionally, Anthony surprised more than 50 youth at the Ivey Lane Neighborhood Center in Orlando to provide dinner, clothing, school essentials and more.

“For me, it’s a really big deal to give back to the youth of Central Florida and back home in New York,” said Anthony.  “This is important because it’s bigger than basketball.  Basketball obviously is a big part of my life, but there are other aspects as well like giving back to the community and assisting people who are less fortunate.  However I can try to help ease the burden a little, that’s what I try to do.”

Anthony will be recognized in-arena as the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award winner during the 76ers-Magic game on Nov. 15.  Orlando Magic CEO Alex Martins and Magic President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman will present him with the award.

The NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award honors Bob Lanier, an NBA League Office executive and NBA Cares Ambassador for more than 30 years.  He had an enormous influence on the NBA family and young people globally, traveling the world to teach the values of the game and making a positive impact through his kindness and generosity.  The legacy he built will continue to live on through the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award recognition, which honors the next generation of players’ commitment to positively impacting their community throughout the NBA season.  Over the course of each NBA season, there is an offseason winner followed by seven monthly award winners.  The offseason winner receives the Bob Lanier trophy, and each monthly winner receives the David Robinson trophy.  The NBA also makes a donation to the charity or foundation of the player’s choice.  To learn more, please visithttps://communityassist.nba.com/.