John Wall

SOURCE OF WEALTH: NBA Player

FUNDING AREAS: Families and Youth

OVERVIEW: John Wall and family move philanthropy through the John Wall Foundation, which strives to improve the quality of life for disadvantaged families and to impact the lives of at-risk youth through mentorship, education and physical activity.

BACKGROUND: Born in 1990, John Wall attended University of Kentucky, where he played basketball. He was chosen first overall in the 2010 NBA Draft. He has played for the Washington Wizards for his entire career.

ISSUES:

JOHN WALL FAMILY FOUNDATION: The John Wall Foundation (JWFF) strives to improve the quality of life for disadvantaged families and to impact the lives of at-risk youth through mentorship, education and physical activity.

The foundation overlaps general youth grantmaking with education giving. In this vein, it hosts a Back to School Field Day in Washington D.C. and Raleigh, recently partnering with DC Public Library and Department of Parks and Recreation in Washington and the Salvation Army of Wake County in Raleigh. It also runs programs during Thanksgiving and other holidays. The foundation also engages in modest education grantmaking, supporting places like Dematha Catholic High School and Boys & Girls Clubs.

Health grantmaking centers on cancer and cancer research, such as the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The forces here are personal, as Wall lost a friend to cancer.

LOOKING FORWARD: Wall is still very much engaged in his basketball career, but perhaps giving will ramp up down the line.

LINK: John Wall Contact Page