Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook received the October NBA Cares Community Assist Award in recognition of his charitable efforts to improve child literacy, the NBA announced today.  The award honors an NBA player each month who best reflects the passion that the league and its players have for giving back to their communities.

In both Oklahoma City and his hometown Los Angeles, Westbrook continues his work to enhance literacy programs.  Last month, Westbrook and the Russell Westbrook Why Not? Foundation opened a new reading center at North Highland Elementary in Oklahoma City.  The facility, named Russell’s Reading Room, was stocked with 1,200 books for all ages, designed to ensure every student is inspired to find something they love to read.  In addition, 450 students at North Highland received a book of their own to take home.

Westbrook formed his foundation in 2012 with the goal of inspiring the lives of children, empowering them to ask “why not?” when faced with rejection and adversity.  The foundation works to help children facing hardships of any kind, giving particular support to community-based education and family service programs.  Westbrook plans to open two additional reading centers in the coming months as his foundation increases its focus on literacy.

“I have been very blessed in my life and believe it is my job to give back to the communities that have given me so much,” said Westbrook.  “I want to provide kids with the guidance and tools to find success, and that starts with literacy and education.  By improving access to books and encouraging children to read, we can help them thrive throughout their educational careers.”

During Sunday’s home game against the Houston Rockets, Westbrook will be presented with the David Robinson Plaque during an oncourt ceremony.  In addition, the NBA will donate $10,000 on Westbrook’s behalf to the Russell Westbrook Why Not? Foundation.

In addition to the monthly NBA Cares Community Assist Awards, the league will present a final 2014-15 Seasonlong Community Assist Award.

To learn more, please log on to http://www.nba.com/cares/.

Basketball fans know Russell Westbrook for his fierce moves on the court as a point guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Besides his flashy style on and off the court, this sports superstar likes to score one for the kids.

Healthy Hollywood loves to discover successful people who never forget to be grateful and are always willing to give back. After all, a generous, kind-heart benefits all of us.

As I learned yesterday from a publicist friend, Russell is one of those guys. The basketball star created The Russell Westbrook Why Not? Foundation, which is dedicated to supporting community-based education and family service programs. While, also, encouraging young people to believe in themselves.

This week, as part of his push to help young kids get educated, he opened up his first Russell Reading room at an elementary school in his Oklahoma community. He gave each of the 450 kids a book to jumpstart their reading and challenged the kids to get reading.

“I believe education is the simplest and most direct path towards a better life, so I want to not only motivate these kids to read and get involved in their education, but also to provide them with tools necessary to successfully meet my challenge,” explain Westbrook.

Russell’s Reading Challenge is part of Scholastic’s national Read 100,000 which encourages kids to read and log 100,000 minutes. Russell challenged over 75,000 students of the 147 metro Oklahoma City school to start reading.

Continue Reading…(via Access Hollywood)

Kings & Jaxs has created a Why Not? boxer brief and a portion of all proceeds will benefit the Russell Westbrook Why Not? Foundation.  Help support the foundation and click here to buy a pair now!

Tis the season! Russell Westbrook launched his Why Not? Foundation by hosting 2 simultaneous Thanksgiving Dinners to give back to underprivileged families. The event included Westbrook-autographed raffle prizes and turkey giveaways. Simultaneously Westbrook’s parents and brother returned to Russell’s childhood recreation park where he learned to play football and basketball to present a “First Annual Russell Westbrook Why Not? Foundation Thanksgiving dinner” serving over 400 disadvantaged people in the South Central Los Angeles Community he grew up in:

Continue Reading… (Beyondthebuzzer.com)

The holiday season usually brings out the best in people, and it’s a time when some athletes like to give back to their communities. Oklahoma City Thunder star Russell Westbrook did just that over the weekend, hosting a Christmas party for local children living in foster care.

Westbrook’s Why Not? Foundation joined forces with Citizens Caring for Children to spread some holiday cheer by giving the kids backpacks full of gifts along with Jordan brand shoes, according to theybf.com. Citizens Caring for Children provides clothing, shoes, books and other necessities to children in state custody throughout the year.

More than 10,800 kids are in Oklahoma’s foster care system, and Westbrook said giving back to the community that supports him is what the holidays are all about.

“More and more children are placed into foster care each year, and to be in a position to bring the joy of Christmas to some of these kids is truly a blessing,” he said. “I am in a unique position to be able to give back to a community that has been so supportive of me and help children in need.”

Continue Reading… (via FoxSports)

Russell Westbrook played Santa Claus on Saturday when he and his Why Not? Foundation teamed up with Citizens Caring for Children to bring 86 kids in foster care a Christmas party they’ll never forget. Check the photos above and press release details below for more:

“As part of his Why Not? Foundation , NBA star Russell Westbrook teamed up for a second consecutive year with Citizens Caring for Children to host a Christmas party for Oklahoma City children living in foster care. Citizens Caring for Children (CCC) is an Oklahoma City-based nonprofit organization that provides clothing, shoes, books, school supplies, mentors and other necessities to children who have been victims of either abuse or neglect and are now living in state custody. Through the Russell Westbrook Why Not? Foundation, Westbrook, joined by his parents Shannon and Russell Senior and his younger brother Raynard, sent each of the children home with backpacks filled with gifts, as well as new shoes provided by the Jordan Brand.”

OKLAHOMA CITY –

The Thunder’s Russell Westbrook made a slam dunk with some kids living in foster care.

His “Why Not Foundation” and Citizens Caring for Children hosted their annual Christmas party. They handed out gifts to 85 children in need. Each child received a backpack filled with gifts and a new pair of shoes.

“I definitely see my face in their face as they walk up and get there presents…It’s a great feeling,” said Westbrook.

This is the second year Russell Westbrook’s Why Not Foundation has hosted the event.

Continue Reading… (via News9.com)