Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah was awarded the 2014-15 J.Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award on Thursday.
The winner of this award is selected by the Professional Basketball Writers Association(PBWA). The award, which is named after the NBA’s second commissioner, is presented each year to a player, coach, or trainer who has shown dedication to serving the community.
Noah founded the Noah’s Arc Foundation(NAF), which helps to support children affected by violence.
NAF also produced “You’re Not Alone,” a touching anti-violence video that tells the stories of those who have lost loved ones due to violence, including interviews of several of Noah’s Bull’s teammates.
Following from NBA.com’s official report:
“Joakim’s initiatives to slow the violence in Chicago should inspire us all to help in our communities,” said PBWA President Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel. “His creative, sustained efforts stood out in perhaps the deepest pool of worthy candidates in the 41-year history of the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award.”
Finalists who finished behind Noah for the award were Orlando’s Tobias Harris, Detroit’s Greg Monroe, Clippers’ Chris Paul, and Memphis’ Zach Randolph.
