Several NBA franchises have spearheaded initiatives centered on empowering underserved communities, and the latest to join the collective of teams driving change is the New York Knicks. According to the BX Times, the team joined forces with JPMorgan Chase to gift the Earl Monroe New Renaissance Basketball School with an endowment.

The Bronx-based school is the first specialized educational institution to have a basketball-inspired academic curriculum. The charter school offers an array of programs to help inner-city youth cultivate a foundation for success, including mental health services, financial support, one-on-one in-house mentoring, scholarship funds and an anti-gun violence initiative. The $100,000 donation—which was presented to the school’s principal Dr. Kern Mojica and a group of students during a recent Knicks game—will advance the school’s mission of uplifting youth in the Bronx and beyond. The Knicks and Chase have also launched a mentorship program where executives will teach students about different career paths. Continue Reading