Raised by a single mother as one of six children, Jason Richardson has lived by the phrase, “It takes a village to raise a child.” With this approach, he has had a tremendous impact on the Phoenix community and its children. He created the Jason Richardson Foundation, which has several mentoring programs. Project 2018 has the goal of sending 100 deserving youth to college by the year 2018. The G.A.N.G.S. Program helps young men aged 8-19, and the Diamonds in the Rough Mentoring Program serves young women of the same age group. At the Man Up Forum, Jason spoke to 60 7th and 8th grade students about important issues such as peer pressure. Jason hosted a clinic called Back to the Basics, which served 50 youth. At his Holiday Assistance Program, Jason and the Foundation served 23 deserving families.

Richardson wants to make sure that in his community service, the kids recognize him not only as a man of talent, but also as a man of integrity so they will follow his example and become productive, contributing members of society. In 2005, he was given the Outstanding Community Service Award for his work in the Saginaw, Michigan community (his hometown). He also received the Angela & Christopher Cohan Community Service Award for his commitments. In 2009, Richardson was given the Outstanding Mentor Award for his work with children. He also donated $5,000 to the Basketball Bucks Program at West Charlotte High School.

About Jason Richardson

Jason Richardson was born in 1981 in Saginaw, Michigan. In 2001 he was drafted by the Golden State Warriors with the fifth overall pick, after playing at Michigan State. In 2002, he was the Most Valuable Player in the NBA Rookie Challenge. Richardson was later traded to the Charlotte Bobcats, then the Phoenix Suns, where he plays today. He is still known for his exceptional slam-dunking ability and three-point accuracy (he led the league in three-point shots made in 2008).