Heeeeeeeyyyyy world!!!! I had all of the fellas laughing today when I slapped on a long blonde wig and went to take my NBA Drug test with the hair on. They show up four times a year for our drug tests and I just had to go into a room and pee in a cup. I just thought I’d spice things up a little bit with my wig and get a few strange looks from everybody.
I didn’t know until this afternoon that I got a Community Assist award from the NBA for the work that we’re doing with Florida Hospital to create a room for teenagers who are sick and hospitalized. I was down there a few weeks ago and had some fun with the kids and their smiles just give me so much happiness. I handed out a few Superman capes and played some video games with those guys and it was so much fun. And by winning that award I guess it means that the NBA Cares folks will be donating $5,000 more to the foundation.
Thanksgiving is coming up in a couple of days, and I thought I’d talk to you guys today about giving back. I have so much to be thankful for from basketball, to family, to life in general, and I want to show my thanks for that by trying to help others. Plenty of people helped me coming up, so I want to try and touch as many lives as I can as well.
The media asked me a bunch of questions today after practice about why I spend so much of my free time doing charity work in the community and the answer is really pretty simple: It’s because I just enjoy giving back. I’ve been given everything in this life that I could ever imagine. So a big part of my life outside of the NBA is giving back to other people less fortunate than me. So I take pride in giving back.
This is just something that I’ve been doing my whole, entire life. You can ask my parents, my homeboys back in Atlanta, or the people at my church – that’s just the way I’ve always been since I was a kid. If I had $5 I’d give my last $5 to somebody else who needs it more. If I saw you with no shirt on and you were cold, I’d give you my shirt.
I’ve tried to never change who I am as far as giving back and wanting to do for others. It’s just me, wanting to give my last so that others have enough.
We got a couple of tough games coming up with Miami and Atlanta, so if I don’t holla at ya’ll before Thanksgiving, ya’ll eat some turkey and dressing for me. Have a good holiday!!! Peace out to ya’ll all around the world!!!
—D-12
Fans: Be sure to check out Dwight on Twitter, Facebook and Superfan
Tags: 2010 NBA Season, Big Change for Kids, Community Work, Dwight Howard Blog, Florida Hospital, NBA Cares, Thanksgiving
Hey Dwight,
Thanks for staying how you’ve always been even though now you’ve got pretty much everything you’d ever want. You make a big impact on a lot of people’s lives.
Keep up the good work, God bless, and have a great Thanksgiving!
LOL
OK Dwight..this is awesome. I’ve checked out the pics u’ve uploaded of ur community service and i think ur doin a great job. U have such a big heart and i know God is gonna continue to bless you. Have a nice day and an even better Holiday. Yuuuuaa…
You and those darn wigs!! (lol) I’m sure everyone loved seeing you act silly and give them something to smile about.
BTW: Thanks for giving back. It means so much. And I am so glad that you have not let fame and fortune change you. Thanks for allowing your fans to see this part of you. We love it and we love you.
i love you so much for that because im the same way and i know that is why i love you so much you always make me smile whenever i see you whether it’s on tv the pc or on the court i just love everything about you and most important your big heart tell the family i said happy thanksgiving dwight that is why good things keep happening for you sweetie keep it up your great boo!!!!!!
I just want to thank you for being the kind of young man, that in my opinion, is worth looking up to. So people just talk the talk. Trying to make themselves look good to others, but I’m willing to bet that you do so much more for other people than we will ever know. God judges us by what’s in our hearts. I believe he is well pleased with the one he sees inside of you! You will continue to be in my prayers. Peace and Love to a truly Super MAN! Rachel
type o. it should have read, “So many people just talk the talk”. My bad!…lol
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You are such an amazing person all around! If there was an All-American award 4 the NBA, you should get it hands down!lol. I know that God will continue 2 bless you in all you do! Besides, God loves a cheerful giver! Can’t wait 2 see you on Turkey Day!
~Continue being a blessing and you’ll stay blessed!
Your biggest fan from the ‘Ham,
*Danie B
Dwight, you truly are 1 in a million! Happy Thanksgiving in advance and good luck in the upcoming games!
Keep the spirit brother, may God bless you and happy thanksgiving
I just knew you were special the first time I saw you.Everyone is always giving athletes a bad rap,but you are one of the most caring people I have ever seen.People are always saying bad things but in my mind I’m always thinking Dwight is different.You are too!!! special!!!
Hi Dwight, thats great that you give to the community and to others less fortunate. Especially since you have been blessed with so much talent, money and etc. Remember this scripture “There is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving.”—Acts 20:35. So the more you give freely, the more blessings you will receive. So keep it up, your a great guy and stay positive.
Yup you have two tough games coming up against two possible playoff teams. Atlanta has really been playing well and thats gonna be a challenge and so have Miami. But you guys are first now and so you guys are the team to beat now…So we will be watching you all and just remember…keep your fouls to a minimum. How about try to only get one foul a quarter. Then in the fourth quarter you have 3 fouls…and then DEFENSE, I want to see you block, rebound and steal as man balls as you can…get your stats up…
Okay so we really enjoy your blogs and how you keep us updated. Have a great week!!!
oh my god! Mr.Dwight Howard, this blog just made me cry! Behind this tall, some-times-aggressive, amazing basketball player lies a kinder,sweeter guy. You are such an amazing guy and player! God Bless You and please never change!!
Will be cheering for all the games this year!!
Have a great thanksgiving!!
mr. dwight howard! your’e my hero!!
[...] Read Dwight’s blog here. [...]
This is exactly why you have everything that you’ve ever imagined….because you constantly bless others!
A very sweet man.
Hey Dwight. I thought you might appreciate reading this story.
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5144486/1/Infinity
It’s a piece of fan-written work from the Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha universe. The story might seem a little wierd, but give it a try. You might enjoy it. Lyrical Nanoha episodes can be found on YouTube, and it’s a good series, but be warned: it takes some time for the show to hit its stride, and it still feels a bit of its lolicon roots. Erm. Close your eyes during Nanoha’s transformation scenes and you should be fine.
Hey , it is Thanksgiving Day! I’m enjoying my extra day off, and I am planning to make something fun that will probably involve a car trip and seeing something new in Naugatuck I haven’t seen yet.
You write new post at Thanksgiving?
WOW! NOW THAT’S WHAT I CALL ‘A MEASURE OF A MAN’. THAT’S WONDERFUL THAT YOU ARE CONTINUING TO GIVE BACK. I LOVE TO HEAR THAT ! IT’S SO IMPORTANT TO GIVE BACK. AND IT’S REWARDING TOO.
I THINK OPRAH’S SUCH A GREAT EXAMPLE AS WELL OF SOMEONE WHO CONTINUES TO GIVE BACK. I COMMEND YOU FOR WHAT YOU’RE DOING AT THE FL HOSPITAL BY HELPING TO BUILD A GAME ROOM FOR THE TEENAGERS WHO ARE SICK. MAY GOD CONTINUE TO RICHLY BLESS YOU DWIGHT! SOME PEOPLE TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY WANT TO DO AND WILL DO BUT SOME PEOPLE PUT THERE MONEY WHERE THERE HEART IS AND THAT’S WHAT’S SO GREAT ABOUT YOU. I DO CHARITY WORK AND VOLUNTEER WORK AS WELL. I LOVE IT! IT’S SO REWARDING. I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE MY HEART IS SO MUCH BIGGER THAN MY POCKETS BUT THAT’S ALRIGHT B/C IT’S THE HEART THAT COUNTS. CONTINUE TO DO GOOD WORK AND LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE BEFORE MEN! GOD BLESS!