Ja Morant continues to surpass the community’s expectations on the court through fearsome drives and determination. However, the 2020 Rookie of the Year doesn’t stop there. He also shows us how remarkable he can be off the court.
If you don’t have Twitter, you probably haven’t heard of #Jas12DaysofKindess. On December 1st, Ja called upon his followers to suggest charitable organizations that he would go on to support for the next 12 days. Alongside partners like Nike, Body Armor, Panini America, PSD Underwear, Hyperice, and the Memphis Grizzlies, he’d select an organization each day to send a signed jersey and a little something extra—a contribution.
Lock in Dec. 1-12 for #Jas12DaysOfKindness ‼️ Send me charitable organizations you support & why. I’ll pick a winner every day to send a signed jersey & I’ll do something special for the winning organization too. Use #Jas12DaysofKindness
— Ja Morant (@JaMorant) December 1, 2021
Tons of passionate people poured in with organizations, and we are highlighting the 12 lucky organizations that felt the love this holiday season—some of which work right here in Memphis!
Day One of #Jas12daysofkindess: Camp Conquest
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Camp Conquest creates a fun, engaging, and active summer camp for individuals with special needs. It instills confidence in them to try new things and tackle challenges in place created just for them.
Learn more about what they do and ways you can get involved.
Day Two of #Jas12daysofkindness: George Mark Children’s House
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George Mark House is a pediatric transitional care center that focuses on quality of life for children with illnesses that modern healthcare cannot yet cure. They work to bring elements of normalcy and joy to the lives of families and serve as a resource to instill confidence in caregivers.
Learn more about the fantastic work they do and ways you can help.
Day Three of #Jas12DaysofKindness: Opportunities Inc
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Opportunities Inc. works with children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to reach their fullest potential. They do this by offering a variety of programs for job training, money management, and independent living skills.
Learn more about their work and ways you can get involved.
Day Four of #Jas12DaysofKindness: Boys and Girls Club of Greater Memphis
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The Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis serves in economically depressed areas within Shelby County through academic and relational programs. They open doors to kids within Memphis to have a positive place and make productive use of their time.
Learn more about the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Memphis and ways you get involved.
Day Five of #Jas12DaysofKindness: Camp Good Days
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Camp Good Days serves children with cancer and family members who have been touched by cancer by providing them a fun and engaging camping experience. All year-round camping programs are free of charge, and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for kids battling cancer.
Learn more about Camp Good Days and ways you can get involved.
Day Six of #Jas12DaysofKindness: Memphis Union Mission
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Memphis Union Mission serves the physical, spiritual, and emotional needs of men, women, and families who are homeless, addicted, and in crisis. They serve over 90% of Shelby County individuals who use emergency shelters by providing meals and shelter.
Learn more about Memphis Union Mission and how you can make a personal investment in helping the homeless.
Day Seven of #Jas12DaysofKindness: Memphis Athletic Ministries
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In many communities in Memphis, children do not have access to safe and enriching after-school programs. Memphis Athletic Ministries was founded in 1998 and serves the youth of Memphis by providing them with a sage and enriching after-school program. They have eight locations throughout Memphis and are the largest faith-based sports program in Shelby County by serving over 700+ kids. Their programs work to coach, grow, and lead the youth of Memphis by helping them identify their relationship with Christ and their place within the community.
Learn more about MAM and the many ways you can volunteer, donate, and get involved.
Day Eight of #Jas12DaysofKindness: First Responders Children’s Foundation
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First Responders Children Foundation provides financial support to children who have lost a parent in the line of duty and families enduring hardship from tragic circumstances.
Learn more about First Responders Children Foundation or how you can help support those enduring financial hardship due to tragic circumstances
Day Nine of #Jas12DaysofKindness: Binghampton Development Corporation
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The Binghampton Development Corporation (BDC) has been rooted in the Binghampton community of Memphis for 18 years, and works to improve the quality of life for all residents. The BDC serves the neighborhood by investing in people and property to forge a more self-sustaining future. They provide access to equitable housing, quality job training, and youth outreach programs.
Learn more about the BDC and ways you can get involved.
Day Ten of #Jas12DaysofKindness: Girls INC Memphis
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Girls Inc. has been inspiring the girls of Memphis for 75 years to be strong, smart, bold, and empower them to succeed. They serve more than 2,000 girls ages 6 through in an all-girl, trusting environment. Girls Inc. provides a variety of hands-on programming and are driven by their goals that girls live healthy lives, succeed academically, and have life skills that prepare them for adulthood.
Learn more about Girls Inc. and ways that you can advocate, donate, or volunteer.
Day Eleven of #Jas12DaysofKindness: Providence House
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Providence House offers free, voluntary emergency shelter to children newborn through twelve years old, actively living in crisis situations which place them at risk of abuse or neglect. Over 40 years, they have advocated and cared for over 13,000 children and families in Cleaved, Ohio. After their stay at Providence House, children go home with strong and stable families.
Learn more about the work of Providence House and ways you can get involved.
Day Twelve of #Jas12DaysofKindness: REACH Memphis
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Ja brought it home with one last organization from Memphis, REACH. REACH Memphis prepares high achieving high school students for college and beyond. They provide various summer experience opportunities, college counseling services, career exploration resources, ACT preparation, mentoring, and tutoring services to students.
The Grizzlies mantra is “Next Man Up,” where they operate and function seamlessly as a team.
This mentality has been crucial as they’ve faced injuries and obstacles, but the team wants to see each other win. And just like the Grizzlies, Memphis needs to harness the “Next Man Up” mantra and continue to grow an already great city.
