NBA players and former players come together to support the recovery in Valencia after the floods

NBA players and former players come together to support the recovery in Valencia after the floods

Valencia, February 5, 2025

A group of Spanish NBA players and former players, working with the NBPA Foundation, have come together to make a donation supporting the recovery efforts after the devastating floods caused by the DANA storm in Valencia, Spain.

The funds were donated jointly by a dozen Spanish NBA players, both current and retired, among them Alex Abrines, Santi Aldama, José Manuel Calderón, Víctor Claver, Rudy Fernández, Marc Gasol, Pau Gasol, Juancho Hernangómez, Willy Hernangómez, Sergio Rodríguez, Nikola Mirotic and Ricky Rubio.

The NBPA Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA), which represents the league’s more than 450 active players, added to the players’ contributions and provided further funding in recognition of their collective effort to support the people of Valencia at such a difficult time.

“After the first large-scale aid, we now want to reinforce those contributions, because we have a clearer picture of what is needed today. Having looked at where more support is still needed, we want to help the people affected in Valencia through a number of initiatives. We were a team for many years and now we are one again for this cause,” said former player José Manuel Calderón.

The donation from the players and the NBPA Foundation will go to Fundación Felisa to support three ongoing initiatives in particular:

• Replacing sports equipment and gear in 12 affected schools, so that physical education can keep being taught in the future.
• Reinforcing the distribution of more than 600 metric tons of basic goods for families in vulnerable situations, through the logistics center the foundation runs.
• Supporting the home drying program, helping the process along in 160 homes and 60 garages, an essential step in repairing and recovering the damaged spaces.

“The NBPA Foundation is proud to join our players in their effort to help Valencia recover from the tragic floods late last year,” said Erika Swilley, executive director of the NBPA Foundation. “Spain holds a special place in the NBPA’s heart, not only because of the players who call Spain home but also because of the dozens of players who have had the chance to visit the country through our annual retreat, The Sanctuary. We are glad to have had our community’s collective resources to make a positive difference in Spain as the affected areas move forward with their recovery,” she added.

More information:

For more about Fundación Felisa’s work, you can contact Luz Martínez, the Foundation’s director of communications:

• Email: luz@fundacionfelisa.org
• Phone: 627 75 28 77