New York, Oct. 26, 2023— Today, the NBA named Chicago Bulls player Ayo Dosunmu the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award offseason recipient for his work to empower Chicago kids. The NBA will honor one offseason winner and seven monthly winners for community service at the start of each season. The overall champion gets the Bob Lanier Trophy and monthly winners get the David Robinson Trophy.

The Ayo Dos Foundation’s purpose is to establish secure, accessible spaces for growth and education. Dosunmu spent his offseason engaging over 1,500 Chicago youngsters to bridge the opportunity gap. Chicago native Dosunmu played for his hometown team to inspire optimism, drive, and possibility in his community’s youngsters and encourage their passion, talent, and hard work. Dosunmu and Motorola conducted a basketball session for 60 Black Kids Predict kids in May. Dosunmu and Bulls youngsters Hoops coaches led the youngsters through skill stations on basic basketball abilities using Black Kids Predict technology to enhance the experience and demonstrate sports and technology.

Dosunmu held his 2nd annual “Ayo’s Block Party” in July to remember his boyhood friend Darius Brown, who was killed by gunfire. Dosunmu, Beyond the Ball, and Urban Male Network organized a basketball clinic for 120 adolescents, double the number from the previous year, and praised youth-safe organizations. Dosunmu and Bulls Youth Hoops instructors taught youth basketball skills, provided free lunch, donated equipment, and gave Beyond the Ball and Urban Male Network $5,000 grants to support their missions at the block party.

At his old elementary school, Beasley Academic Center, Dosunmu started “Ayo’s Scholars” as an incentive program to promote youth and education. Over 1,000 children attended Dosunmu’s August back-to-school pep rally to debut the program. The pep rally featured contests, prizes, and Benny the Bull and Chicago Bulls performers. Dosunmu also promised honor roll students tickets to Bulls home games in 2023-24. Over 350 Philip Randolph Elementary School children received Nike footwear from Dosunmu, Nordstrom, and Shoes That Fit in September. He helped youngsters fit shoes, took photos, and led hyperactive students in workout routines. Dosunmu believes in giving pupils new shoes to start school.

“This recognition means the world to me, not just as a basketball player, but as a proud representative of this incredible city,” Dosunmu added. The sense of giving back to the city that reared me and made me who I am is memorable. I dedicate this prize to Chicago’s youth—dream big and stay focused-the possibilities are endless.”

On Thursday, Oct. 26, Beasley Academic Center students will surprise Dosunmu with the Bob Lanier Community Assist Award at practice. He will be honored on-court at the Bulls’ Nov. 6 game against Utah Jazz. EVP of Basketball Operations Artūras Karnišovas will give the prize.

An NBA League Office executive and NBA Cares Ambassador for over 30 years, Bob Lanier receives the offseason Bob Lanier NBA Cares Community Assist Award. He traveled the world to teach game values and made a good impact on the NBA family and young people worldwide via his kindness and charity. The annual NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award celebrates the next generation of NBA players’ community service throughout the season, continuing his legacy.