Just as he supports his sister, Booker shares that same support for others dealing with intellectual disabilities through his involvement with Special Olympics. “I feel like I’m taking care of one of my little brothers or little sisters.” “When it comes to Special Olympics I feel right at home,” Booker said. She just finds the positive in it and that has just helped me throughout my whole career, my whole life.”ĭue to his sister’s condition and his ever-continuing push for equality in the world, the Special Olympics has always been something near and dear to Booker’s heart. She comes in with a smile every day, every situation that she’s in. I think just the way she approaches life every day. The two share an unbreakable bond because to Booker, she is more than just a sister, she’s his best friend. She wanted to be a singer, artist, everything she did, I feel as an older brother, was to support to the best of my ability.” “I always wanted her to be the best at everything she did. “Growing up with a sister that has to face new challenges every day has given me a new perspective for life,” Booker said.
Witnessing Mya overcome these challenges, all while exuding more positivity than anyone else in the room, inspires Booker each and every day. The deletion causes poor development of several body systems, which can result in mild to moderate intellectual disabilities. Mya was born 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, also known as DiGeorge syndrome, which is caused by a missing piece of chromosome 22. Young kids around this town say ‘Book.’ They don’t say ‘Devin Booker’ they say ‘Book.’ That means a lot to this organization, but it certainly means a lot to these kids who look up to him.”īooker’s benevolence can be attributed to his family and, more specifically, his younger sister Mya. You feel it when you’re around town, when I’m at my kids’ school. “That says a lot about what this community and what children in general feel about Devin and his impact here. “Everywhere I go in Phoenix, I see Booker uniforms,” Head Coach Monty Williams said. The local community and beyond has also taken notice. “I hope the way I perform on the court can inspire people, but the things I do off the court is what I want people to take away from me,” Booker said. The NBA recognized Booker’s game-changing impact, as the 23-year-old received the November NBA Cares Community Assist Award. The facility will be completed with a Suns branded multipurpose room engaging coaches and athletes with everything from art to shooting hoops. He tipped-off the Starting Five campaign in November as he personally surprised five local non-profits each with $100,000, including, naturally, the Special Olympics Arizona, who will use the funds to build their own facility for the first time ever.
Devin Booker continues to prove that he is not only a star on the court, but off of it as well.Īfter earning his first NBA All-Star selection this year, Booker is being honored with another achievement beyond the hardwood, being announced as a Special Olympics Global Ambassador.įrom the “Devin Booker Starting Five,” an unprecedented initiative to donate $500,000 a year over the next five years ($2.5 million total) to Phoenix Suns Charities in support of Arizona children and families in need, to his continual outreach in the city of Phoenix and throughout The Valley, these philanthropic efforts reflect how Booker lives his life.
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