Dallas Mavericks selected Dwight Powell like January 22 Spotlight Community Awards winner, presented by Chime, for their extraordinary commitment to serving children and families in North Texas. He has served in countless roles in recent months that have improved the lives of many people and brought joy to children.
In mid-January, Powell participated in a Whataburger Reading Challenge event to promote children’s literacy at a local school. He practically read a book to second graders and opened their eyes to the adventurous world of books.
Powell said reading is one of his favorite passions, and it keeps him poised during a busy basketball schedule.
“The more you read, the easier it is to read and the more fun it is to read,” the longtime NBA veteran shared with the students.
“And then you start reading things that are more difficult and expand your mind more. You can start investigating more things that interest you. Above all, never let anyone limit you guys.
Although he will always be a Canadian at heart, Powell readily admits that he considers himself a transplanted Texan.
Like everyone else on the roster, he gets paid to play and help win games. But it’s impossible to ignore the impact the 2014 second-round pick had on Dallas.
Powell’s community support has been tremendous. He has helped families deal with unexpected expenses when their children are hospitalized. He was a constant giver during the holidays. Last year, he gave away turkeys in the annual Mavs Turkey Giveaway, then helped families buy Christmas gifts.
And he did it selflessly in large part because of his mother, whom he lost to breast cancer in 2012. In 2018, he established the Dwight Powell Children and Family Support Fund in partnership with UT Southwestern Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center to help patients and their families cope with the challenges of cancer.
Powell also consistently serves in smaller ways, such as promoting math and science in schools. He is once again the face of the Mavs’ Science of Basketball program, alongside Mavs legend Rolando Blackman.
The Mavs forward is featured in the student manual with examples of using math and science to calculate free throw percentage, the arc of a shot, measure his wingspan and even draw his jersey.
Powell also participates in the Mavs Community Ticket Program and donates tickets to various nonprofits throughout the season.
This generous spirit made Powell a valued member of the community, which he embraced for other reasons as well.
“From the first day I came here, it’s been a tough city,” Powell said. “This is a city that has always stood with us through thick and thin and has stood up to adversity, so it’s no surprise to see the community stepping in when they saw things they needed to talk about. terms of social justice. And we’ve seen the community step in when COVID-19 was a big deal and communities needed help.
“I wasn’t surprised when one of the worst winter storms rolled through this state and the power went out (last February) and people had to share homes with neighbors and share food and water with neighbors – and it didn’t surprise me that the city fought through it all.
“And, on top of all that, the fans were always supporting and supporting us. It’s an amazing city with amazing people. They have proven this to me year after year and it is a blessing to call everyone here my neighbor.
He is particularly drawn to helping young people through educational initiatives.
“Children are our future. The better we can educate them, the better prepared they will be to carry on our entire legacy,” he said.
Community has always been important to Powell during his eight-year NBA career.
In October 2020, he was named the recipient of the NBA Cares 2019-20 End of Season Community Assist Award. He became the first player in Mavericks history to win the annual honor since the NBA began picking winners after the 2011-12 season.
A native of Earl Haig High School in Toronto, Powell played nearly 500 NBA games after being selected 45th overall in the second round of the NBA Draft.
However, some of his most important works extend far beyond the court.
While in North Texas, he established the Dwight Powell Child and Family Support Program at the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center. He has also been the face of the franchise on the social justice front and has served as a spokesperson for many events. He is also the organization’s ambassador for Breast Cancer Awareness Month each October.
During the 2021 holiday season, Powell once again surprised North Texas families and refunded their layaway balances. He has done this for seven years since joining the Dallas Mavericks.
Powell understands that with his platform comes great responsibility, and he’s always willing to lend a hand.
“Basketball has given me a lot and playing in this league has always been my dream,” Powell said. “But more importantly, being able to support families in times of need and hopefully empower children to live their dreams on their own means so much more to me.”
