The Washington Wizards strive for success both on and off the court. As a professional sports franchise with deep roots in and around the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, the Wizards are dedicated to giving back and making a difference in the local community. It is our mission not only to build an excellent team with positive role models for young fans, but also to create and maintain a multitude of community programs that encourage participation in youth basketball, serve to educate today’s youth and assist those in need.
Player-Led Initiatives
Reading Timeouts:
In April of 2020, players Troy Brown Jr. and Ish Smith read different stories to kids in the community.
John Wall COVID-19 Donation:
In April 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, John Wall donated more than 2,300 N95 masks to MedStar Washington Hospital Center. In addition, Wall partnered with Chick-Fil-A to provide 600 meals for workers in the hospital.
Wizards Care Toyland Drive:
In December 2019, Wizards host their annual toy drive where players, coaches, and fans bring brand new toys to the arena to donate to kids. All of the toys donated benefit The Salvation Army National Capital Area.
Beal and Wall Thanksgiving Assist:
In November of 2019, Beal and Wall help distribute 1,000 turkeys ahead of Thanksgiving day.
Programs
50/50 Raffle: For the 2021-2022 season, The Wizards and Capitals partnered with Monumental Sports & Entertainment to host 50/50 raffles at home games where 50% of the winnings go to the winning ticket while the other 50% goes to the MSE Foundation.
CareFirst Community 3’s: Starting in 2019, the Wizards and CareFree teamed up to donate $100 to Food and Friends for every 3-pointer made by the Wizards. Food and Friends’ mission is to improve lives of people with HIV/AIDS, cancer, and other illnesses in Maryland and Virginia. In the 2019-2020 season, Carefirst donated $78,800 to Food and Friends.
Leidos Defending the Rim: Starting in 2019, the Wizards and Leidos partnered to donate $100 to Special Olympics Warrior Foundation for every blocked shot by the Wizards. Special Operations Warrior Foundation allows surviving children of special operations personnel who lost their lives the opportunity to obtain college scholarships and educational counseling. In the 2019-2020 season, Leidos donated $27,499 to the Foundation.
Wizards License Plates: For every Wizards license plate purchased, a portion of the $50 fee will go to the Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE) Foundation that helps create a better place for the community by supporting game-changing solutions.
Jr. Wizards: This program provides opportunities for kids to stay connected with the Washington Wizards Organization. Many opportunities include basketball camps, educational programs (Wizards reading zone, Wizards laboratory, Wizards physics), Kids Club, Training at Home, and many more programs.
Community Partners
