Bucks center Brook Lopez wins Bob Lanier Community Assist Award for literacy initiatives
Brook Lopez was honored Wednesday by the NBA with the Bob Lanier Community Assist Award for the 2022-23 season.
Lopez was recognized by an executive panel and a fan vote for his continued support of youth literacy in Milwaukee. During his “Blocks for Books” campaign, the NBA said, Lopez contributed about $235,000 for books and literacy initiatives.
His efforts supported Allen-Field Elementary, Hayes Bilingual Elementary, Marvin E. Pratt Elementary, Kilbourn Elementary and Bryant Elementary of Milwaukee Public Schools as well as the Next Door Foundation. Lopez helped bring a Scholastic Book Fair to each school, and each student at all five schools were able to select and keep five books (about 10,000 books).
The NBA said Lopez also set up the schools to receive Scholastic Dollars to buy new books for its libraries.
“That's just how important I think it is,” Lopez told the Journal Sentinel during the season. “I think it's that important that children that get into reading. You look at the state of a lot things right now, it's very important for children to start reading at a young age. Obviously they become smarter, it's something they fall in love with, adventure, romanticism, creativity of it all. It's a great tool and it's fun.”
The Bob Lanier Community Assist Award “honors one player’s sustained efforts and difference-making work within their community over the course of the season.”
Lanier played for the Bucks from 1979-84 and had his number retired by the organization.
In a statement from the NBA, Lopez said, “Reading is a personal passion of mine that brings me joy and has played a key role in my success. Throughout my career, I have remained committed to supporting youth literacy initiatives because I know firsthand how important this skill is. Whether at home, in the locker room or on the road, reading has always played a significant role in my life. I want to ensure future generations are able to develop this skill too and fall in love with reading just as I have, especially kids in economically disadvantaged schools and communities.
“To be the recipient of the Bob Lanier Community Assist Award for my efforts in uplifting youth literacy in Milwaukee is truly an honor. Bob Lanier was committed to giving back in the Milwaukee community, so to be able to bring this award back to Milwaukee means so much to me and the Bucks organization.”
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Bucks’ Brook Lopez wins NBA community award for literacy initiatives
