Grant: The Big Generous

Brian Grant
OC Register: Grant has been a leader in charitable endeavors throughout his NBA career, winning the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award for the 1998-99 season. Grant called that award for outstanding community service “the highlight of my NBA career thus far.”

In a project similar to Bryant’s points-driven donation, Grant made a donation for every rebound he had in the 2001-02 season in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks. Since joining the Lakers in the Shaquille O’Neal trade, Grant has continued the kind of efforts he undertook when playing in Portland and Miami. One such project involved Brian and wife Gina adopting local needy families for the holidays. With the help of the Heart of Los Angeles Youth (HOLA) organization, 10 families were selected. The Grants gave each family an array of gifts to take home.<>

The Grants gave similarly at Thanksgiving. They partnered with Dinah’s restaurant and Melissa’s World Variety Produce to provide Thanksgiving dinners to families at A Place Called Home in south-central Los Angeles. In addition, the Grants funded a traditional Thanksgiving dinner for 500 people living at L.A. Family Housing’s Valley Shelter and Transitional Shelter. “I’m very blessed to have everything that I have, and I feel an obligation to see beyond myself and try to make a difference,” Grant said. “I was raised in a poor, rural part of Ohio (Georgetown). We didn’t have much, but it was one big community. If a family was in need, another family stepped in to help out. I learned the importance of giving back at a young age.”

So, does Grant’s on and off the court contributions to the Lakers make it easier to accept that $13 million that we are paying him? Discuss in the Forums!