Skip to content

Top Navigation

PEOPLE.com PEOPLE.com
  • News
    • Coronavirus
    • Crime
    • Human Interest
    • Politics
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Country
    • Awards
    • Sports
    • Theater
    • Books
  • Coronavirus
  • Royals
  • Lifestyle
    • Style
    • Fashion
    • Beauty
    • Health
    • Parents
    • Home
    • Real Estate
    • Pets
    • Food
    • Shopping
    • Tech
  • PeopleTV
  • Shopping
    • Coupons

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Premium
Login
Logout
Subscribe

Explore PEOPLE.com

PEOPLE.com PEOPLE.com
  • Explore

    Explore

    • Every Tiara Worn at a Royal Wedding

      From Princess Beatrice to Meghan Markle Read More Next
    • Engineer Creates App To Translate Your Cat

      Find out what your cat is trying to tell you with a new cat app Read More Next
    • The Sweetest Photos of Princes Harry with Diana

      Princess Diana died when Harry was just 12 years old Read More Next
  • News

    News

    See All News

    Sean Connery's Cause of Death Revealed Weeks After He Dies at Age 90

    Sean Connery died on Oct. 31 at age 90
    • Coronavirus
    • Crime
    • Human Interest
    • Politics
  • Entertainment

    Entertainment

    See All Entertainment

    Coyote Ugly Turns 20: Where Is the Cast Now?

    • Celebrity
    • TV
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Country
    • Awards
    • Sports
    • Theater
    • Books
  • Coronavirus
  • Royals
  • Lifestyle

    Lifestyle

    See All Lifestyle

    Introducing ... PEOPLE's Products Worth the Hype

    • Style
    • Fashion
    • Beauty
    • Health
    • Parents
    • Home
    • Real Estate
    • Pets
    • Food
    • Shopping
    • Tech
  • PeopleTV
  • Shopping

    Shopping

    • Coupons

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Premium
Login
Logout
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

People is on Community!
Text us for exclusive photos and videos, royal news, and way more.
Text: 212-479-1704
  1. People.com
  2. Sports
  3. Kobe Bryant Gave Back to Underserved Communities Just as Much as He Gave His All on the Court

Kobe Bryant Gave Back to Underserved Communities Just as Much as He Gave His All on the Court

The late basketball icon donated thousands of dollars and hours of his time to charity

By Diane J. Cho
February 02, 2020 04:00 PM
Products in this story are independently selected and featured editorially. If you make a purchase using these links we may earn commission.
Skip gallery slides
FB Tweet

1 of 15

FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Credit: Kobe Bryant/Instagram

The Bryant family founded The Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation (KVBFF) in 2007 to help improve the lives of those in need and encourage young people to stay active with sports.

The foundation has contributed to causes like Kids in Sports Los Angeles (with a $20,000 donation) and COACH for Kids and Their Families (with a $75,000 grant to help provide screenings and services to underserved neighborhoods in L.A.). It's also hosted a holiday celebration for homeless and at-risk families from My Friend's Place, during which parents and their kids received holiday gifts, food and photos with Santa.

1 of 15

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 15

FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Credit: Kobe Bryant/Instagram

Following his retirement from the NBA, Bryant created Granity Studios, a production company that works to create content for young adults through storytelling and sports, according to Forbes.

ā€œFor us, for the studio, it is trying to connect important messages that we want our youth to get to understand, to grow with and to evolve with,ā€ Bryant told the outlet in September 2019. ā€œThen we start looking at sports and there is a connection with the story and the sport itself.ā€Ā 

Through Granity Studios, Bryant released his Oscar-winning Dear Basketball animated film and several sports-inspired books, including The Wizenard Series: Season One, which he co-wrote with Wesley King, and Legacy and the Queen, which he co-wrote with Annie Matthew.

2 of 15

3 of 15

FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Credit: Kobe Bryant/Instagram

For Legacy and the Queen, the athlete tapped tennis superstar Serena Williams as his muse.

"šŸ’ŖšŸ¾Ā @serenawilliamsĀ let’s do this today. The queen of tennis as a muse toĀ #legacyandthequeen. Always an inspiration to the next generation. Let’s goooo!" Bryant wrote on Instagram in 2019, alongside a photo of himself and Williams.

The story follows 12-year-old Legacy, a girl who loves tennis but is too poor to afford formal training, and her mission to win an annual tennis tournament to earn the cash prize that could help save her family's orphanage.

"I hope #legacyandthequeenĀ inspires you to find that magical light within to guide you thru the darkĀ #liveyourdream," Bryant wrote of his book.

3 of 15

Advertisement
Continued on next slide.
Advertisement

4 of 15

FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Credit: Kobe Bryant/Instagram

"I’m always game for talking about building confidence in young people and putting imagination back into sports," the late star wrote of his visit to The View in September 2019 to talk about his podcast, The Punies.

The audio series follows a young boy named Puny Pete, who loves to play sports with his neighborhood friends, and his many adventures and lessons he learns along the way. There are currently two seasons, with episodes like, "Righteous Rivals," "Trust Your Crew" and "Know Your Teammates."Ā 

4 of 15

Advertisement

5 of 15

FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Credit: Make-A-Wish Foundation

Kobe granted more than 200 wishes through his partnership with the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

ā€œMeeting Kobe was probably the highlight of my life,ā€ Jordan Patterson, who met Bryant eight years ago, when he was 13,Ā told TV station WITI.

Patterson, from Wisconsin, was fighting kidney dysfunction and was able to meet Bryant after he and his family were flown out to L.A.

ā€œIt boosted my spirits so high,ā€ Patterson told the station of the 2012 visit. ā€œI’m really grateful for that … [he] signed all my pictures, took any pictures I wanted, answered all my questions.ā€

5 of 15

6 of 15

FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Credit: Kobe Bryant/Twitter

Through his family foundation, Bryant also helped fund the National Museum of African American History & Culture. He became a milestone donor (having contributed $1 million or more) and tweeted on the museum's opening day, ā€œGo. See. This. Museum. There is no greater testament to this country than the stories in this building. Honored to be a part of itĀ @NMAAHC.ā€

6 of 15

Advertisement
Advertisement
Continued on next slide.
Advertisement

7 of 15

FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

In 2009, the star was inducted as a national ambassador for After-School All-Stars, a free program that helps kids flourish in five main areas: health and fitness, academic readiness, STEM, career exploration and visual and performing arts.

7 of 15

Advertisement
Advertisement

8 of 15

FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Credit: Kobe Bryant/Facebook

Through Stand Up to Cancer, Bryant helped raise more than $81 million for cancer research in 2012. He also posted a photo on Facebook of two kids he met through the program, writing, "We have toĀ Stand Up To Cancer! Kid's shouldn't have to suffer. I met the most amazing kids today at camp."

8 of 15

Advertisement

9 of 15

FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Credit: Kobe Bryant/Instagram

Outside of his creative endeavors, Bryant has taken to the streets to meet with students, children and underserved communities across the country.

Here he is taking a selfie with students after reading to them as part of the CDF Freedom Schools program, which was created to empower the youth through reading.

9 of 15

Advertisement
Advertisement
Continued on next slide.
Advertisement

10 of 15

FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Credit: Michael Kovac/Getty

The late star surprised students with a holiday visit at a local school on Dec. 19, 2018, in Mission Viejo, California.

10 of 15

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

11 of 15

FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Bryant made a visit to a football centre during the 2010 FIFA World Cup on June 27, 2010, in the township of Soweto, South Africa, to spend time with the kids and families in the community.

11 of 15

Advertisement
Advertisement

12 of 15

FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Credit: Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty

The star is seen here speaking with evacuees displaced by Hurricane Katrina during Kenny Smith's Hurricane Katrina relief effort and the NBA Players Charity Game event on Sept. 11, 2005, at Prince's Gym in Houston. The gym, at the time, was being used as a shelter for evacuees.

12 of 15

Advertisement
Advertisement
Continued on next slide.
Advertisement

13 of 15

FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Credit: Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty

At a 2007 charity event in N.Y.C., the Black Mamba and a group of kids had fun bowling in Harlem.

13 of 15

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

14 of 15

FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Credit: China Photos/Getty

The global icon gave tips and played a game of basketball with Changchun University of Technology students on July 27, 2010, in Changchun of Jilin Province, China.Ā 

14 of 15

Advertisement
Advertisement

15 of 15

FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Credit: Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty

Bryant and former Laker Brian Cook celebrated the NBA's Read to Achieve Week by making a surprise visit to Center Street Elementary School on Oct. 20, 2004, in El Segundo, California, to read to the students.

15 of 15

Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Diane J. Cho

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook
Trending Videos
Advertisement
Skip slide summaries

Everything in This Slideshow

Advertisement

View All

1 of 15
2 of 15
3 of 15
4 of 15
5 of 15
6 of 15
7 of 15
8 of 15
9 of 15
10 of 15
11 of 15
12 of 15
13 of 15
14 of 15
15 of 15

Share options

Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Login

PEOPLE.com

Magazines & More

Learn More

  • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
  • Advertise
  • Content Licensing
  • Sitemap
  • Student Offer this link opens in a new tab

Connect

People is on Community!
Text us for exclusive photos and videos, royal news, and way more.
Text: 212-479-1704
Newsletter Sign Up
Other Meredith Sites

Other Meredith Sites

  • 4 Your Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Allrecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • All People Quilt this link opens in a new tab
  • Better Homes & Gardens this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Insights this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Surveys this link opens in a new tab
  • Cooking Light this link opens in a new tab
  • Daily Paws this link opens in a new tab
  • EatingWell this link opens in a new tab
  • Eat This, Not That this link opens in a new tab
  • Entertainment Weekly this link opens in a new tab
  • Food & Wine this link opens in a new tab
  • Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Hello Giggles this link opens in a new tab
  • Instyle this link opens in a new tab
  • Martha Stewart this link opens in a new tab
  • Midwest Living this link opens in a new tab
  • More this link opens in a new tab
  • MyRecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • MyWedding this link opens in a new tab
  • My Food and Family this link opens in a new tab
  • MyLife this link opens in a new tab
  • Parenting this link opens in a new tab
  • Parents this link opens in a new tab
  • People en EspaƱol this link opens in a new tab
  • Rachael Ray Magazine this link opens in a new tab
  • Real Simple this link opens in a new tab
  • Ser Padres this link opens in a new tab
  • Shape this link opens in a new tab
  • Siempre Mujer this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living this link opens in a new tab
  • SwearBy this link opens in a new tab
  • Travel & Leisure this link opens in a new tab
© Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporationthis link opens in a new tab. People is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation All Rights Reserved. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab Manage Push Notificationsthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab

Manage Push Notifications

If you would like to opt out of browser push notifications, please refer to the following instructions specific to your device and browser: Google Chrome and Android, Firefox, Safari, or Microsoft Edge.
© Copyright . All rights reserved. Printed from https://people.com

View image

Kobe Bryant Gave Back to Underserved Communities Just as Much as He Gave His All on the Court
this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.