In yet another philanthropic effort OKC Thunder superstar Russell Westbrook partnered with the Advisory Board of Crystals to create t-shirts to profit LA’s Inner City Arts School.
OKC Thunder superstar Russell Westbrook is among the most active NBA players off the court when it comes to his philanthropic efforts. His Why Not? Foundation is constantly running events to benefit both his native Los Angeles and his in-season home in Oklahoma City.
Recently, Thunderous Intentions noted another “Why Not?” pop-up comedy show occurring on July 11th. Westbrook will be hosting with longtime friend comic Demetrius Deason. It’s one of numerous comedy shows the pair have mounted over the years.
Likewise, Westbrook has run a yearly bowling event (Why Not Bowl?) for charity with the most recent occurring on April 9 of this year.
Each year like clockwork Westbrook, his family and teammates can be seen in OKC during Thanksgiving and the Christmas season hosting events where they offer meals or send families home with gifts for the holidays.
From Westbrook’s Why Not? Foundation main website the mission statement is made clear regarding how Westbrook endeavors to use his celebrity to help others – and specifically children:
"The mission of the Russell Westbrook Why Not? Foundation is to inspire the lives of children, empower them to ask “Why Not?” and teach them to never give up.The foundation works to help children that are facing hardships of any kind and when faced with that adversity fight to succeed and to never give up."
Even his clothing line Honor the Gift has natural ties into many of his philanthropic efforts. The most recent effort finds Westbrook partnering with the Advisory Board of Crystals with specially designed t-shirts from his line.
The ABC post from their Instagram account best defines their mission:
T-shirt charitable project:
Westbrook posted on his Instagram account two separate posts on the collaborative effort he undertook with ABC targeted to benefit the LA school Inner City Arts. The school specializes in arts education specifically for children from low-income families and 100 percent of the profits from the two t-shirts will go to the school.
https://www.instagram.com/p/ByIZy_MBKsJ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Both sites note the shirt is sold out (no word yet on whether additional runs of the shirt are in production).
This was the Instagram post/video from the ABC site:
https://www.instagram.com/p/ByGIkmgAaU0/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Westbrook continues to carve out a philanthropic niche:
For seven years Westbrook’s Why Not? charitable foundation has funded and assisted low income, at risk children to overcome barriers to achieve. The charity has funded 39 different reading rooms in both Oklahoma City and his native L.A.
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Previously I wrote about how kids in the OKC neighborhood the Westbrook’s live in would ring his doorbell and ask his wife if Russell could come out to play (something he always did even after a practice). Jeff Van Gundy confirmed that story on a podcast years ago.
I wonder now that his downtime is spent with son Noah and twin daughters whether he is still able to play with the local children as freely. Based on how Westbrook seems to interact in the community he probably does play with the kids and includes Noah.
And, I recall when Westbrook was promoting his Style Guide book telling a talk show host (I believe it was Ellen DeGeneres) that he tends to only wear clothes a limited number of times and then he drops the clothes off at local thrift stores in the bins.
I bring this up only because for as much as many in the media (we see you Colin Cowherd) are constantly on Westbrook’s back about his on court failings they don’t ever mention his off court activities.
Many NBA athletes run basketball camps or make sure to be seen by media at their one event each year. Don’t get me wrong – that’s great they are doing anything to help others. I just think Westbrook and his family go above and beyond to give back, which sets him apart from many of his peers.