Eight-time NBA All Star Dwight Howard on Wednesday visited an outreach center run by the Good Shepherd Social Welfare Foundation in New Taipei to donate food, daily necessities, and toys to those in need, according to his team the Taoyuan Leopards.
Howard donated NT$80,000 (US$2,606.45) worth of items, including tissues, wet napkins, canned foods, bread and around 20 different types of children's toys, to the foundation, which helps low-income individuals and families, the Leopards told CNA Thursday.
During the visit, Howard said he wanted all those at the center to know that God loved them and that they were loved.
"I just wanted to spread some love and some good vibes and bring it to you guys today. Let you know you guys are loved, I love you, God loves you, and your babies are loved," Howard said.
The visit to the Good Shepherd Social Welfare Foundation comes after the charity received NT$1.4 million of the over NT$3 million raised at an evening fundraising event held to coincide with Howard's 37th birthday on Dec. 8.
The remaining parts of the raised money, after deducting relevant costs, was donated to the CountryEDU Charity Foundation, which helps students living in rural areas, according to the Leopards.
Since joining the Leopards, Howard has been involved in community service in Taiwan, such as visiting local schools, the Leopards said in a statement.
Some of the schools Howard visited were Sinwu Elementary School and the rural Ke-Jian Elementary School in Taoyuan, the Leopards said.
When he visited the schools on Tuesday, he, along with a sports promotional company, donated a total of 20 bicycles to underprivileged children, according to the Leopards.
In addition to his philanthropy, Howard has been kept under the media spotlight in recent months, which included Leopards General Manager Brett Su (???) stepping down Monday after apologizing to fans for not publicly announcing the team's plan to sit Dwight Howard in Sunday's T1 League home game against the Kaohsiung Aquas a day earlier.
Nearly 15,000 fans showed up at the National Taiwan Sport University Gymnasium for the game against the Aquas, with many booing the Leopards when it became evident Howard would be left on the bench.
Howard, who joined the Leopards in November, was the first overall pick in the 2004 NBA draft, later becoming a three-time Defensive Player of the Year. He also won a championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2019-2020 season.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel