Advertisement

Giannis Antetokounmpo, fiancée Mariah Riddlesprigger putting on annual diaper drive to support Milwaukee Diaper Mission

Hannah Kirby, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
·4 min read

Not only are we nearing Milwaukee Bucks season, it's also almost time for Giannis Antetokounmpo and his fiancée Mariah Riddlesprigger's annual diaper and fund drive to help Milwaukee-area families in need.

The drive, called The BIG Give Back, is being put on by the Charles Antetokounmpo Family Foundation, a global social impact foundation created by the Antetokounmpo family, to benefit Milwaukee Diaper Mission, according to a Wednesday news release.

"Today, 1 in 2 U.S. families with young children face diaper need, meaning they lack a sufficient supply of diapers to keep their baby clean, dry, and healthy," the release said.

Here's what to know about the drive, including how you can help, how it got started and what Milwaukee Diaper Mission does:

When is The BIG Give Back diaper and fund drive?

This year's BIG Give Back runs Oct. 23 through Nov. 3.

What does the Milwaukee Diaper Mission do?

"As Milwaukee's only basic needs bank, Milwaukee Diaper Mission is a vital resource for our community, supporting thousands of families each month with the basic essentials they need and deserve," Meagan Johnson, who co-founded the organization, said at a news conference at the diaper mission last month.

MDM distributes diapers to several local social service agencies that then give the supplies to their clients. The diaper mission has distributed more than 1.3 million diapers into the community since its inception in 2020.

Giannis Antetokounmpo and his fiancée, Mariah Riddlesprigger, are helping the Milwaukee Diaper Mission raise awareness for National Diaper Need Awareness Week, Sept. 18-24.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and his fiancée, Mariah Riddlesprigger, are helping the Milwaukee Diaper Mission raise awareness for National Diaper Need Awareness Week, Sept. 18-24.

How did The BIG Give Back come about?

When Antetokounmpo and Riddlesprigger welcomed their second son in 2021, they quickly realized how expensive it is to have two kids in diapers.

That year, to celebrate the birth of Maverick, and help Milwaukee-area families in need, they put on Maverick's Diaper Mission, a diaper drive in collaboration with Milwaukee Diaper Mission.

Since then, the event has become the annual BIG Give Back. Riddlesprigger has passionately thrown herself into supporting MDM and is on its board of directors.

"There's no way I can help the whole world, but you can start somewhere," Riddlesprigger said at a news conference at the diaper mission last month. "I think this is where we start and we continue to build and help as many people as we possibly can."

"There's a lot of families out there that are in need over diapers," Antetokounmpo said at that news conference. "My family was one of them."

Back in the day, Antetokounmpo said, his mom needed to ask for help from neighbors, the church, organizations and the community.

"It was hard," he said. "Growing up, I didn't understand all the sacrifices people have to make in order for them to raise their kids."

Antetokounmpo and Riddlesprigger welcomed their third child, daughter Eva Brooke, last month.

To celebrate the birth of Maverick Antetokounmpo and help Milwaukee-area families in need, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Mariah Riddlesprigger are putting on a diaper drive in collaboration with the Milwaukee Diaper Mission, the premium baby brand Nuna and the Bucks.
To celebrate the birth of Maverick Antetokounmpo and help Milwaukee-area families in need, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Mariah Riddlesprigger are putting on a diaper drive in collaboration with the Milwaukee Diaper Mission, the premium baby brand Nuna and the Bucks.

What's being collected through The BIG Give Back?

Diapers, wipes and funds.

The most-needed items are diapers sizes 4, 5, 6, and wipes, according to a CAFF Instagram post.

Where can I make donations for The BIG Give Back?

During the drive, these Milwaukee Pick ‘n Save and Metro Market locations will have collection bins for diapers and wipes near their registers, the news release said:

  • Pick ‘n Save East Pointe: 605 E. Lyon St.

  • Pick ‘n Save Garfield: 1100 E. Garfield Ave.

  • Pick ‘n Save 35th and North: 2355 N. 35th St.

  • Pick ‘n Save Good Hope: 7401 W. Good Hope Road

  • Pick ‘n Save Holt: 250 W. Holt Ave.

  • Pick ‘n Save Loomis: 3701 S. 27th St.

  • Pick ‘n Save Midtown: 5700 W. Capitol Drive

  • Pick ‘n Save Bluemound East: 8151 W. Bluemound Road

  • Metro Market Van Buren: 1123 N. Van Buren St.

Additional Milwaukee donation sites can be found at MilwaukeeDiaperMission.org.

Monetary donations can be made at milwaukeediapermission.networkforgood.com/projects/202917-2023-the-big-give-back.

Diapers and wipes can also be donated at a collection event from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Oct. 29 at Fiserv Forum, according to the news release. The Bucks take on the Atlanta Hawks at the arena that night. Anyone who makes a monetary donation before and during the game will be entered to win four Bucks game tickets, the news release said.

For more information on The BIG Give Back and the Milwaukee Diaper Mission

For more information on The BIG Give Back 2023, visit milwaukeediapermission.org/big-give-back. For additional info on MDM, visit milwaukeediapermission.org.

If you're in need of diapers

If you're in need of diapers, visit milwaukeediapermission.org/our-partners.

Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal.

DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and more

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Mariah holding Milwaukee Diaper Mission drive