Cover Stories Chris Paul Receives Brotherhood Crusade Bakewell/Bremond Pioneer of African Achievement Award
The partnership between NBA All-Star Chris Paul and the Brotherhood Crusade has had a positive impact on the community. It showed that his ability to assist goes far beyond the hardwood to push the Los Angeles Clippers to victory. His assist abilities help the community of Los Angeles by helping the youth move forward and find their purpose and worth.
The Brotherhood Crusade will honor the Chris Paul Family Foundation at the 48th Annual Pioneer of African American Achievement Award Gala. The Black Tie Gala will take place at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on December 9 at 8:00 PST.
“The Brotherhood Crusade is a respected organization who has served the community for the past 48 years,” Paul said. “My family and I are humbled to receive this honor.”
The efforts of Chris Paul’s family reminded Brotherhood Crusade president and CEO Charisse Bremond-Weaver of a member of her family.
“The Brotherhood Crusade selected Chris Paul and The Chris Paul Family Foundation as their core values align with my late father, founder, Walter Bremond and our Institution Builder, Danny J. Bakewell, Sr. The Pauls are all servant leaders,” Bremond-Weaver said. “They give unconditionally to those in need. Today, the Brotherhood Crusade has the same philosophy of serving unconditionally.”
With his collaboration with State Farm and WINGS for the “Exist to Assist” campaign, Paul donated PCs, iMac desktops and Macbook Pros to the Brotherhood Crusade with software for graphic design and word processing.
"As Chairman of the Board and on behalf of the entire Brotherhood Crusade Board of Directors, we are so pleased and honored to present the Bakewell/Bremond Pioneer of African American Achievement Award to Chris Paul. We honor Chris not for his athletic achievements but for who he is as a man, as a husband, as a father and as a leader in this community,” said Danny Bakewell Sr. Chairman of the Brotherhood Crusade Board. “Chris has set a new standard for professional athletes throughout this country and around the world. Understanding that as a professional athlete and as an African American he has both a platform and a responsibility to speak up, speak out and also help out whenever he can to those who are less fortunate. We honor and celebrate both Chris and his entire family for the work that they do not only for The Brotherhood Crusade, but for communities all over this country, he is a man who's work should be celebrated and we are honored to be leading the charge for his celebration"
Paul also invited children of the Brotherhood Crusade to a holiday shopping spree at Target. He along with his friend, Kevin Hart, traveled alongside the children throughout the store, advising them how to budget the $100 allotted to each of them while giving out autographs and selfie opportunities.
“Working with their team in the past year has been as rewarding for us as it has been for the community,” Paul said.
Paul donates to give low-income children the same advantages and resources that children of the middle and upper class get. The importance of philanthropy was a lesson learned during his formative years.
“At a young age, my parents taught both my brother and I that is our responsibility to try and do our best to give back to our community,” Paul said. “When I was a kid, we always participated as a family in various events with our church and other community organizations in Winston, Salem to support those who needed our help.”
The lesson manifested during his years as a pro basketball player. Paul’s foundation has teamed up with fellow teammate Paul Pierce and the Clippers franchise to donate glasses to the entire Inglewood unified school district and he donated tennis shoes to every student at Barack Obama Charter School along with other projects.
Paul’s prominence in the Los Angeles community got recognition when he won the Sports Humanitarian of the Year Award in July.
Paul fits in philanthropy work in-between his obligations as a point guard for the Clippers and a father—he proves to be an excellent multitasker. The Clippers are third in the Western Conference with a 16-5 overall record as of December 5. The starters, along with reigning Sixth Man of the Year Jamal Crawford and J.J. Redick, make up a contending core for the franchise.
“We're one month into the season and we are still working on achieving our goals,” Paul said. “I am a competitor and knowing that my teammates believe I can lead them gives me a responsibility that I take very seriously.”
When Paul visited the Brotherhood Crusade and other organizations, he would take time out to have open discussions with the kids he helped. He encourages the children to ask him questions about his life and career. His advice for starting a non-profit is to focus on personal interests and connect with organizations like the Brotherhood Crusade for guidance.
“I have learned that Chris and the family lead with their hearts. They care so much about the community and those in need,” Bremond-Weaver said. “Their gift is to help others. The Brotherhood Crusade is honored and blessed that we can pay tribute to a great family.”
For more information about the Pioneer African American Achievement Award or the Brotherhood Crusade, please visit www.brotherhoodcrusade.org or call 323.846.1649