Kevin Durant Charity Foundation and Degree partner with Laureus Sport for Good with $1m donation

NBA star Kevin Durant may be recovering from an achilles injury, but the Brooklyn Nets player is continuing to make a positive impact off the court and in underprivileged communities around the USA.

Kevin and the Kevin Durant Charity Foundation have partnered with deodorant company Degree and the Sport for Good Response Fund to donate $1 million to 10 sport for development programmes around the country in an effort to help 100,000 kids stay active in communities hardest hit by Covid-19.

With only one in three children and young people in the USA active, and that figure further impacted by the restrictions in place due to Covid-19, the need for sports provision is greater than ever. The global pandemic is having a significant impact on sports programmes and organisations, with almost 60% of local sports leaders estimating that their organisations will lose at least 50% of their revenue over the next year.

The #KeepMoving campaign is supporting organisations in cities across the USA, including Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, New Orleans, and New York, and in smaller communities like Kevin’s hometown, Seat Pleasant, Maryland. The organisations receiving funding are: Row NY; New Heights Youth Inc; Kids in the Game; L.E.A.D; Seat Pleasant Activity Center; Harlem Lacrosse LA; Girls in the Game; Dancing Grounds; PeacePlayers; Milwaukee Kickers.

“Throughout my career, my biggest focus has always been on community impact,” said Kevin Durant. “As a kid, my neighborhood rec center was a huge resource for me - local organizations like Seat Pleasant Rec Center truly help shape kids' lives. By partnering with Degree & Laureus on this initiative, we're able to impact 100,000 kids in 10 different cities to help keep kids moving.”

The Sport for Good Response Fund aims to ensure that sport for development programmes are empowered to deliver new or adaptive provision to continue supporting children and young people during the current pandemic.

The Fund also offers financial support to the sports-based development programmes at the heart of communities around the world so that they can withstand the challenges of this immediate stage and help build stronger young people once restrictions are lifted.