There is no disputing Kobe Bryant's legacy in the NBA. In 20 years, the talented shooting guard accomplished so much.
Kobe won five NBA championships and was an 18-time All-Star, a 15-time member of the All-NBA Team, a 12-time member of the All-Defensive Team, the 2008 NBA MVP, and a two-time NBA Finals MVP. Yet in the time since Kobe's sudden death, what we've seen is that Kobe's basketball legacy hasn't been central to the discussion.
The reason is because Kobe was so much more than a basketball superstar. Kobe had a tremendous desire to give back to the world that had given him so much. He was one of the rare people who genuinely enjoy helping others and making things easier for mankind.
The tremendous gifts Kobe bestowed on the world off the court have been the focal point of discussion. Kobe was a kind and caring person who certainly faltered at times. His ability to be vulnerable and to feel beyond his own experiences is what made him so special. It's what's made his death so hard for so many fans, friends, and family members.
Make-A-Wish
Kobe Bryant worked with Make-A-Wish and other similar organizations for over 20 years. He granted over 250 wishes for people from a 3-year-old to an 81-year-old. He traveled to more than half of the United States in these endeavors, as well as 10 other countries.
The Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation
The Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation was founded to help "young people in need, encouraging the development of physical and social skills through sports and assisting the homeless."
The organization also supported programs that strengthen communities and promote mutual understanding among people around the world. Kobe and Vanessa established the organization in 2011.
After-School All-Stars
Kobe became involved with After-School All-Stars after meeting president and CEO Ben Paul through a mutual friend in 2007. The organization offers tutoring, academic enrichment, athletic programs, and mentoring at 468 elementary, middle, and high schools across 60 US cities. It focuses on providing services between 3 and 6 p.m., when families often have a child care gap between the end of the school day and the end of the workday.
Kobe did school visits. He gave scholarships to summer basketball camps. He would share ever-coveted Lakers tickets. He even set up a cultural exchange program with China to give children the international perspective that shaped his own childhood.
Lakers Holiday Adopt-a-Family Program
Year after year, Kobe would participate in the Lakers Holiday Adopt-a-Family program with the LA Unified School District's Homeless Education Program. Not only would Kobe cover the purchase of gifts for families in need during the holiday season, but he also took the time out to meet them and hear their stories. It was a major component in his connection to the Los Angeles community.
Veterans
Kobe Bryant got together with Barack Obama to give back to wounded warriors in 2010. The event was actually part of the then-president's birthday celebration. An avid basketball fan, President Obama invited NBA players for a friendly game with the wounded warriors in the audience.
Kobe couldn't play in the pickup game because of an injury, but he provided entertainment from the sidelines. He chided players for going easy on the commander-in-chief, demanding the same 100% from them that he always did of himself, even on his birthday.
After the game was done, Kobe and the president worked side by side assembling care packages for wounded warriors across the country.
Stand Up to Cancer
Kobe supported many cancer charities throughout his career. In 2012, Kobe was part of an all-star telecast that raised more than $81 million for research through Stand Up to Cancer. He also sent motivational messages and raise money independently.
Boys & Girls Clubs of America
Kobe did a tremendous amount of work with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America throughout the course of his career. He worked with chapters not only within California but across the country. His work with the organization inspired many of his other philanthropic pursuits.
Aid Still Required
Kobe began working with Aid Still Required in 2008. The organization aims to help people in areas in crisis that have been forgotten, with programs such as trauma relief for sexual assault survivors, enrichment curricula for at-risk kids, handicraft and small business training for women under Sharia law, marine restoration to ravaged coasts, and agroforestry for farmers with depleted lands.
Kobe was in a PSA to help bring awareness to the war in Darfur, Sudan. "If we can unite people who are willing to take a stand, miracles can happen," Kobe pleaded.
"Together we have the power to save the world."
Smithsonian's National Museum of African History and Culture
Through the Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation, Kobe became a milestone founding donor of the Smithsonian's National Museum of African History and Culture, which opened in 2016.
"Go. See. This. Museum," Kobe urged after the museum's opening.
"There is no greater testament to this country than the stories in this building. Honored to be a part of it @NMAAHC."
The Mamba (& Mambacita) Sports Foundation
The Mamba Sports Foundation was originally one of three legs of the Mamba Sports Academy, Kobe's latest venture to combine his love for sports and giving back. The Mamba Sports Foundation would continue the Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation's mission of serving underserved communities.
The Mamba Sports Foundation became the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation after the deaths of Kobe and daughter Gianna. In addition to helping advance underserved athletes, it will also focus on young women in sports.
