Toronto Raptors guard Norman Powell is putting smiles on a few families' faces during the holiday season. Over the weekend, Powell traveled to his hometown of San Diego, California. Visiting his alma mater, Lincoln High School, Powell met up with nearly 200 families and distributed $100,000 to help them buy holiday gifts.
“I know you’ve heard pay it forward and so every opportunity we’re paying it forward and to our Southeast community, Lincoln High School community, we try to give back and do something there,” Powell's mother, Sharon, said.
“Times will get better. It doesn’t rain every day.”
This is not the first time Powell has given back to the San Diego area. In November, he purchased food for over 250 families to help families get through the Thanksgiving holiday. He also hosted the “Understand The Give” holiday event in Detroit last Christmas. While in the midwest, he offered gifts to tenants displaced by a deadly fire.
“I am a big believer in giving back and helping out and bringing some cheer to people,” he said.
“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the people that came and gave back and helped me out along the way and just showed that they care.”
Powell is not stopping at giveaways and food drives. Moving forward, he is looking to create his own nonprofit organization in the near future. In the meantime, he will turn his attention toward the NBA season. The Toronto Raptors are set to open the 2020-2021 NBA Regular Season on December 23 against Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans. The team is looking to improve upon their 53-19 record from last season.
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