NBA to help in earthquake relief efforts in China

Beijing, April 25 (IANS) The National Basketball Association (NBA) Thursday announced that teams and players will donate one million yuan to support earthquake relief efforts in Southwest China.

The contribution will be delivered to the China Youth Development Foundation (CYDF) through the league's global social responsibility program, NBA Cares, to aid victims and their families of Lushan, Sichuan province in disaster relief and rebuilding efforts, Xinhua reports.

NBA will bring immediate assistance through a CYDF emergency relief program by providing portable classrooms and financial assistance to those students from earthquake damaged schools and families.

"The NBA, our teams and players are committed to providing support and resources to those in need in the wake of this terrible earthquake," said NBA China CEO David Shoemaker. "This financial contribution is just the first step in our commitment to helping rebuild Ya'an and to build on our long-standing partnership with CYDF."

In addition to the cash donation, the league will continue to work with the CYDF and the Yao Ming Foundation in support of rebuilding efforts helping to develop Hope Schools, places to play and host a series of NBA Cares events throughout the region this summer.

NBA players will also send their messages of support to those affected during live NBA game telecasts and programs on national and regional TV and digital platforms in China.

"We are saddened by the recent earthquake in Ya'an and our hearts and prayers go out to those who have been affected," said Dwayne Wade of the Miami Heat.

NBA Cares is the league's global social responsibility program that builds on the mission of addressing important social issues in the United States and around the world.

Through this programme, the league, the NBA teams and players have donated more than $210 million to charity, completed more than 2.3 million hours of hands-on community service, and created more than 760 places where kids and families can live, learn, or play, in 23 countries and regions on five continents.