Pau Gasol will undoubtedly go down as one of the greatest international players to ever grace an NBA floor. Just as important, especially to Gasol himself, are his numerous contributions off the court. CNN recently made a focus piece on Gasol and his charitable contributions.
Gasol became a UNICEF ambassador early in his NBA career, additionally he and his brother Marc created the Gasol Foudation to empower children to lead healthier lives.
Recently, after Typhoon Haiyan struck the Phillipines, Gasol pledged to donate $1,000 for every point he scored in his next game against the Golden State Warriors. Gasol would respond with one of his best games of the season, scoring 24 points in a Lakers win.
The consistent factor in all of Gasol’s contributions is kids. Gasol focuses a lot of work on uplifting and helping children because he has his eye on the future:
Kids are our future. So if you provide good teaching, good guidance to kids, I think we’re going to have a brighter future. And I think that every kid should have the right to get an education, have a right to play, have a right to — a chance — basically.
Whether or not you are happy with Gasol’s play on the court, he has an impact on things far beyond the court of basketball, and that is something that should be applauded.
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