#NNPA BlackPress
PRESS ROOM: NBA Foundation Announces Sixth Grant Round in Celebration of Second Anniversary
NNPA NEWSWIRE — As we celebrate the Foundation’s second anniversary this month, the latest round of support represents continued commitment to creating employment opportunities, furthering career advancement and driving greater economic empowerment for Black youth throughout the United States and Canada.
NNPA Newswire
The NBA Foundation announced its sixth round of grants – the largest to-date consists of 13 new grants and 27 renewals totaling $20 million to non-profit organizations with the mission of improving economic opportunity for Black youth.
This latest round brings the Foundation to a total of 158 grants in its two years of existence, totaling more than $53 million over that span.
As we celebrate the Foundation’s second anniversary this month, the latest round of support represents continued commitment to creating employment opportunities, furthering career advancement and driving greater economic empowerment for Black youth throughout the United States and Canada.
About the NBA Foundation
The NBA Foundation is the first nonprofit organization established by the league with the goal of promoting economic opportunities for Black youth.
The Foundation makes investments in regional and national groups that support workforce development and school-to-career possibilities. Visit the nbafoundation.com for more details.
You can find the full list of round six grantees below.
NBA Foundation Grant Round Six – August 2022
- Total Grant Docket: $20 million
- Number of grantees: 40
- National and Multi-Market
*Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America is the largest and most experienced youth mentoring organization, serving more than 5,000 communities in all 50 states through our 230+ agencies.
The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America is to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth.
The mission of Black Girl Ventures is to provide Black and Brown women-identifying founders with access to community, capital and capacity-building in order to meet business milestones that lead to economic advancement through entrepreneurship.
Braven is a national organization that empowers promising college students with the skills, confidence, experiences and networks necessary to transition from college to stable first jobs, which lead to meaningful careers and lives of impact
City Year is a national organization that helps students and schools succeed while preparing the next generation of civically engaged leaders who can work across lines of difference.
In partnership with teachers and schools, City Year AmeriCorps members cultivate learning environments where all students can build on their strengths and thrive while acquiring valuable skills and experiences that prepare them for career success.
College Possible makes college admission and success possible for students from low-income backgrounds through an intensive curriculum of coaching and support and commitment to providing the tools, strategies and support that students need to navigate and overcome systemic barriers to college graduation.
*Community Options, Inc.
Community Options’ mission is to develop housing and employment supports for people with disabilities, specifically Black youth aged 14-24 with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The Hidden Genius Project is an international, Oakland-based organization whose mission is to train and mentor Black male youth in technology creation, entrepreneurship and leadership skills to transform their lives and communities.
Through a student-centered, project-based approach, The Hidden Genius Project invests in young Black men, gives them access to technology training, and plugs them into an ecosystem of innovation and empowerment.
iMentor builds mentoring relationships that empower first-generation students to graduate high school, succeed in college, and achieve their career ambitions.
In a world where talent is equally distributed, but opportunity is not, iMentor is fighting to rebalance the odds and give every young person a fair chance to realize their dreams.
Year Up is a national workforce development organization committed to creating equitable access to economic opportunity, education, and justice for all young adults—no matter their background, income, or zip code—and changing the systems and practices that perpetuate the Opportunity Divide in our country.
Atlanta
*United Way of Greater Atlanta
United Way of Greater Atlanta engages and brings together people and resources to drive sustainable and equitable improvements in the well-being of children, families, and individuals in the community.
Boston
With a mission to employ, train, and empower youth to create peace, equity and justice in collaboration with adults, The Center for Teen Empowerment (TE) is a critically conscious youth development organization inspiring young people to think deeply about difficult social problems and providing tools and skills to help them use their voices to catalyze significant positive change.
Charlotte
Carolina Youth Coalition (CYC) is a Charlotte-based nonprofit organization that nurtures and propels high-achieving, under-resourced students to and through college.
*National Center on Institutions and Alternatives (NCIA)
The mission of NCIA is to help create a society in which all persons who come into contact with human service or correctional systems are provided an environment of individual care, concern and treatment.
NCIA is dedicated to developing quality programs and professional services that advocate timely intervention and unconditional care.
Road to Hire (R2H) is a Charlotte-based organization that is redefining who is given the chance to start a lifechanging career by connecting under-resourced young adults with onramps to high-earning and in-demand careers through paid training, college access, robust life skills support and mentorship.
Chicago
With a mission to encourage students of color and from other underrepresented groups to pursue career and leadership opportunities in the law, Just the Beginning – A Pipeline Organization’s vision is a legal profession in which lawyers and judges reflect the backgrounds and perspectives of the populations they serve.
SGA Youth & Family Services helps children, families and communities facing great challenges to realize their potential. SGA is replacing the cycle of poverty by using a unique and proven service model, the Cycle of Opportunity®, which focuses on early childhood, parenting, educational supports and workforce development.
Denver
The School-Based Health Alliance is the national voice for school-based health care. We advocate for health and education partnerships, especially the school-based health center model, to help young people thrive. The NBA Foundation grant will support high schools in Denver with school-based health centers.
Detroit
Boys and Girls Club of Southeast Michigan
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan offer world-class programming which enables youth to become career, start-up and homeowner ready.
Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation is a nonprofit formed to maximize impact and add value to Detroit residents and employers by providing quality services, connecting them via ‘Detroit at Work’ to resources and the support needed to thrive.
The Sphinx Organization transforms lives through the power of diversity in the arts, focused on fulfilling that mission through artist and ensemble development, music education, and by creating opportunities to support diverse talent in classical music and the performing arts.
Houston
Founded in 2010, he mission of Capital IDEA Houston is to lift working adults out of poverty and into living-wage careers through training and education.
EMERGE empowers & prepares high-performing students from underserved communities to attend and graduate from selective colleges & universities across the nation.
Indianapolis
Center for Leadership Development
For more than four decades, the Center for Leadership Development (CLD) has transformed the lives of Black young people in Indianapolis, helping students and their families overcome pervasive challenges by equipping them for post-secondary and professional success with the character development tools, values and skills needed to flourish and enrich their communities.
Miami
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami, Inc. aims for all youth to achieve their full potential by creating and supporting one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite their power and promise.
As an affiliate of BBBS of America, the oldest and largest mentoring organization in the country, BBBS Miami is rooted and grounded in social justice to develop a diverse and equitable workforce.
Milwaukee
Running Rebels Community Organization
The Running Rebels Community Organization engages the community, youth and families, prevents involvement in the juvenile justice system, intervenes and guides youth by assisting them with positive decision-making, and coaches youth through their transition into adulthood through relationship building and the necessary resources and skills necessary to become thriving, connected and contributing adults.
Minnesota
Summit Academy OIC is recognized as a regional leader in workforce development, educational services and policy innovation. Summit Academy also fundamentally believes that the best social service program in the world is a job.
Memphis
CodeCrew and The Collective Blueprint
CodeCrew is a Memphis-based organization that educates and mentors Black students and professionals, who are underrepresented in tech, to become tech innovators and leaders through practical hands-on computer science training.
Through its mission to increase socioeconomic mobility for Opportunity Youth in Memphis by building pathways to thriving careers, the Collective Blueprint develops and runs high-quality supportive programs to help young adults secure careers while advocating to improve educational and employment systems for all young adults.
Together, the organizations collaborate on a hands-on program designed to train individuals to be entry-level software developers
As part of the Soulsville Foundation Inc., the Stax Music Academy inspires young people and enhances their academic, cognitive, performance, and leadership skills by utilizing music with an intense focus on the rich legacy and tradition of Stax Records.
New Orleans
Reconcile New Orleans supports young adults as they transform their lives by encouraging personal growth, providing workforce development and training, and equipping them with tools to achieve their potential.
YouthForce NOLA is an education, business and civic collaborative that builds bridges between school and work through its network of partner schools, employers, training providers, and community organizations.
Its vision is that New Orleans public school graduates will thrive economically as a result of being the most sought-after talent for hiring and advancement in the region’s high-wage career pathways.
New York
A nonprofit computer science organization founded in 2013, All Star Code is dedicated to building a sustainable talent pipeline of young men of color ready to enter, thrive and lead in the technology industry.
All 3 Star Code creates economic opportunity by developing a new generation of boys and young men of color with an entrepreneurial mindset who have the tools they need to succeed in a technological world.
New Heights is a New York City-based organization whose mission is to educate and empower promising underserved youth to be leaders, champions and student-athletes by helping them develop the skills necessary for success in high school, college and life.
Women’s Housing and Economic Development Corporation (WHEDCo)
WHEDco creates and bridges access to resources that create thriving neighborhoods – from high-quality early education and after-school programs to fresh and healthy food, cultural programming and economic opportunity.
WHEDco builds sustainable, affordable homes with the belief that affordable housing must be anchored in strong communities.
Philadelphia
With a focus on education, technology and entrepreneurship, Hopeworks provides a positive, healing atmosphere that propels young people to build strong futures and break the cycle of violence and poverty.
Hopeworks connects youth to life-changing opportunities where their growing technology skills are utilized for enterprising businesses within the community.
Phoenix
Valley of the Sun United Way envisions a community where every child, family and individual is healthy, has a safe place to live, and has every opportunity to succeed in school, in life and in work.
As we work with our community, corporate and nonprofit partners to implement our five-year plan for Mighty Change, we will put all of our efforts toward reaching bold goals for Maricopa County in Health, Housing and Homelessness, Education and Workforce Development.
San Francisco/Bay Area
*East Oakland Youth Development Center
The East Oakland Youth Development Center (EOYDC) develops the social and leadership capacities of youth and young adults (ages 5 – 24) so that they are prepared for employment, higher education, and leadership opportunities.
New Door’s mission is to prepare Bay Area transition-age youth for work and life by providing the jobs, training, education and support they need to discover and achieve their potential, and successfully transition to independent adulthood.
Toronto
CEE Centre for Young Black Professionals
CEE addresses economic and social barriers affecting Black youth through workforce development, education and advocacy and leads the Collective Impact Project, an effort comprised of three organizations working in collaboration to build economic opportunity for Black youth in Canada.
Washington D.C.
As the nation’s first and leading community kitchen, DC Central Kitchen’s mission is to use food as a tool to strengthen bodies, empower minds and build communities.
DCCK reverses the traditional soup kitchen model by preparing thousands of daily meals while empowering opportunity youth and adults with histories of incarceration, homelessness, addiction, and trauma to embark on meaningful culinary careers.
*Denotes new grantee
#NNPA BlackPress
Smooth Ride! Car Suspension & Comfort Tested #shorts
Smooth suspension meets surprisingly spacious legroom. Experience true comfort on any road!
Watch the full video: https://youtu.be/l9Z571za5Gc
#NNPA BlackPress
61 years since Selma, Houston leaders say the bridge remains to be crossed
61 years after Selma, Houston leaders say the fight for equality continues. The issues that sparked the marches still impact Black Americans today.
It has been 61 years since the Selma marches. But political leaders in Houston say that the issues protesters were marching for still plague the lives of Black Americans.
Visit Our Website
Read more stories by our team
https://defendernetwork.com/category/news/opinion/
Sign-up for the Top 5 newsletter
Donate/ Support Our Work
#NNPA BlackPress
Here is what you need to know about finding unique white elephant gift ideas that everyone wants to steal
The best white elephant gift ideas are funny enough to get a reaction but useful enough that people actually want to steal them. Look for gifts with a surprise factor, broad appeal, an inside joke, and just enough personality to spark some friendly competition. The wrapping paper comes off, the room goes quiet for half […]
The best white elephant gift ideas are funny enough to get a reaction but useful enough that people actually want to steal them. Look for gifts with a surprise factor, broad appeal, an inside joke, and just enough personality to spark some friendly competition.
The wrapping paper comes off, the room goes quiet for half a second, and suddenly everyone wants the same gift. That is the sweet spot. A great white elephant pick should make people laugh, lean in, and start plotting their next steal before the turn is even over.
Should a White Elephant Gift Be Funny or Useful?
A white elephant gift can be funny or useful, but the strongest choices usually give people a reason to laugh and a reason to keep the item. A practical gift with an odd design, unexpected feature, or playful theme can get a reaction without becoming something the recipient immediately wants to give away.
The right balance depends on the group. Close friends and family members may enjoy a ridiculous gag gift because they already understand one another’s sense of humor.
A workplace exchange, neighborhood party, or mixed-age gathering usually calls for something with broader appeal. In those settings, humor works better when it is built into an item people could still use afterward.
It also helps to think about how quickly the gift will make sense once it is opened. A strangely shaped kitchen tool, oversized mug, quirky desk accessory, or unexpectedly fancy everyday item can create an immediate reaction. Guests understand the joke right away, while the item still has enough practical value to attract a steal.
Pure gag gifts can be harder to pull off. Something that exists only for the punchline may get a big laugh during the reveal and then sit untouched for the rest of the game. If the goal is to bring one of the gifts everyone keeps fighting over, usefulness gives the joke staying power.
Memorable Present Ideas: Creating Inside Joke Gifts
Inside joke gifts can make a white elephant exchange feel much more personal, especially when most of the group shares the same stories. The trick is choosing a reference that people will recognize quickly instead of building the entire joke around something only two guests understand.
You can turn a memorable vacation mishap, office catchphrase, family story, or long-running group joke into the theme of the gift. A personalized comic book can work especially well when it turns familiar people or a ridiculous shared moment into part of the story.
Think carefully about who the joke involves before ordering anything permanent. The gift should make the person feel included in the fun, not singled out for the wrong reason.
Can You Bring Something You Already Own?
Holiday gift exchanges can be a good place to re-gift something you never used, especially if it is unopened and clean.
The following can all work if they still look presentable:
- A duplicate kitchen gadget
- An untouched game
- A decorative item
- A sealed gift set
- An unopened candle
- A new travel accessory
The goal is to give the item a second chance, not use the exchange as an excuse to clear out damaged or unwanted clutter.
Take a close look at the packaging before wrapping it. Faded boxes, missing pieces, visible wear, or anything that looks obviously used can make the gift feel careless.
Wrapping Budget-Friendly Gifts
Wrapping can make gifts more entertaining before anyone even knows what’s inside.
Misdirection works especially well for fun party games. Put a small gift inside a much larger box. Use packaging from an unrelated household item.
Add harmless weight so guests cannot guess what they are holding. The reveal becomes part of the joke without changing the gift itself.
You can also lean into the theme of the exchange. Bright paper, oversized bows, reusable bags, or deliberately over-the-top wrapping can make an ordinary item feel more memorable. If the gift itself is already funny, simple wrapping may work better so the surprise stays hidden until the last second.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Picking Last an Advantage in White Elephant?
Picking last can be an advantage because you get to see almost every gift before making your move. Instead of choosing blindly from the remaining wrapped presents, you can steal something that has already caught your attention if the rules still allow it.
That advantage depends on the house rules. Some games limit how many times a gift can be stolen.
Others lock an item once it reaches a certain number of steals. If the most popular gifts are already unavailable, the final player may have fewer strong options than expected.
The first player can also get another turn at the end in some versions of the game. That rule can balance things out, since the person who started with the least information may get one final chance to steal.
How Do You Plan White Elephant for a Large Group?
For a large white elephant exchange, set a firm spending limit and establish the stealing rules in advance.
Create a clear turn order before the game begins. Drawing numbers as guests arrive can save time once everyone is ready to start.
Keep the number of steals per gift limited so the game does not drag on. It also helps to have one person track which creative holiday presents have been stolen and when they are locked, especially if dozens of people are participating.
Can You Play White Elephant Virtually?
A virtual white elephant exchange can work over a video call, with one person keeping track of the turn order and each steal. Guests can either mail physical gifts ahead of time or use digital gifts that can be delivered once the game ends.
Set the spending limit and stealing rules before everyone joins. It also helps to decide how gifts will be revealed and who is responsible for sending each one afterward so the exchange does not become confusing.
Choose a Perfect White Elephant Gift in a Snap
Look for a white elephant gift that fits some of these criteria, and everyone will be trying to grab it at your next celebration.
Do you need more gift-giving tips and tricks? Make sure you read some of our other posts.
How the Sandwich Generation Can Help Protect Aging Parents’ Finances
As Progressive Democrats Celebrate ‘Blue Tsunami,’ Oakland Counts Victories
Golden State Valkyries Become Bay Area Legends Winning WNBA Championship on Halloween Night
IN MEMORIAM: Marcia Ann Gillespie, Editor of Essence and Ms. Magazines, Dies at 82
U.S. Rep. John Garamendi Honors local ‘Women of the Year’ at Annual Awards Ceremony
Richmond Neighbors Put Pantry Power on the Map
Oakland Latino Chamber of Commerce Hosts Statewide Convention, Generating $3 Million in Economic Impact
HISTORY MADE: Keisha Lance Bottoms Becomes First Black Woman Elected Governor in American History
HISTORY MADE: Keisha Lance Bottoms Becomes First Black Woman Elected Governor in American History
Five Hospitals Said No! Who Will Help Annette Henry Recover?
Oakland NAACP, BWOPA Speak Out Against Alleged Harassment of Black Women Political Leaders
COMMENTARY: Oakland’s Black Students Have Gained Ground: We Shouldn’t Stop Now
From Backyard Grilling to Jack London Square: Jamale Carlyle’s Chicken Wing Success Story
SEIU Local 1000 and State of California Will Continue to Negotiate New Labor Contract
OPINION: We Can Restore Checks and Balances on Trump
COMMENTARY: Valarie Bachelor and Jennifer Brouhard are Excellent School Board Members and Deserve to Be Reelected
Listening as a Lifeline: A Doula’s Witness to Black Maternal Health
OUSD Receives State Review of District Finances; Outlines Progress Since January
HISTORY MADE: Keisha Lance Bottoms Becomes First Black Woman Elected Governor in American History
Zakiya Jendayi Arrested, Locked Out of Home by Sheriff’s Deputies
SEIU Local 1000 and State of California Will Continue to Negotiate New Labor Contract
Golden State Valkyries Become Bay Area Legends Winning WNBA Championship on Halloween Night
COMMENTARY: Your California Living Trust Could Be Next: When Evidence Isn’t Enough
Oakland Post: Week of September 30 – October 6, 2026
Fate of Bay Area Public Transit Hinges on Regional Transit Measure
It’s Time to Lose Weight Before the Holidays
Mayor Barbara Lee Holds Special State of the City Address in Deep East Oakland
Democrats, Community Groups Back Measure EE to Change How Oakland Is Governed
Oakland Awarded More than $14 Million in State Funding
OP-ED: Proposition 44 Would Put a Price on Trust
The Conversation With Al McFarlane 6/23/26
Media Monday 6/22/26
LIVE! ASK ALMA! — TUES. 6.23.26 7PM EST
Car Buying Secrets: 4 Hidden Checks Before You Sign!
Is This 550 HP Charger Worth YOUR Money? AutoNetwork Review
Celebrating Juneteenth – Frederick Douglass on education and resistance
LIVE! — ASK ALMA! — TUES. 6.19.26 7PM EST
Hyundai Ioniq 5 Parking, Safety, and 360 View #shorts
2025 Ioniq 5 New Wiper & Powerful Performance! #shorts
Electric SUV Range: Is 259 Miles Enough? #shorts
EV Charging: How Fast Can You Charge an Electric Vehicle? #shorts
Biometric Cooling… Messaging Seats…Come on! 2025 Infiniti QX80 Autograph 4WD
Charged Up: Witness the Magic of a Fully Electric Car! #shorts
Range Rover Sport PHEV Included…: See What’s Inside This Luxury SUV! #shorts
Invisible Hood View: Perfect Parking with X-Ray Vision! #shorts
-
Commentary2 weeks agoCOMMENTARY: Valarie Bachelor and Jennifer Brouhard are Excellent School Board Members and Deserve to Be Reelected
-
Education2 weeks agoOUSD Receives State Review of District Finances; Outlines Progress Since January
-
Black History1 week agoHISTORY MADE: Keisha Lance Bottoms Becomes First Black Woman Elected Governor in American History
-
Business2 weeks agoSEIU Local 1000 and State of California Will Continue to Negotiate New Labor Contract
-
Community1 week agoGolden State Valkyries Become Bay Area Legends Winning WNBA Championship on Halloween Night
-
Business2 weeks agoCOMMENTARY: Your California Living Trust Could Be Next: When Evidence Isn’t Enough
-
Business3 weeks agoFate of Bay Area Public Transit Hinges on Regional Transit Measure
-
Community4 weeks agoIt’s Time to Lose Weight Before the Holidays
