Karl-Anthony Towns plays for New York, but his giving is rooted in the places that raised him: his mother Jacqueline's Dominican Republic, his New Jersey hometown, and Minnesota, where he spent his first nine seasons. Losing his mother to COVID-19 in 2020 deepened a commitment that now runs from scholarships and home-building to voting rights.
The Foundation
Towns founded his foundation, the KAT Team, in 2017. It works to expand educational opportunities and support low-income youth, including a scholarship fund for young adults and a partnership with the United Negro College Fund to increase literacy in underserved communities, and it also raises awareness about autism.
Homes and Help in His Mother's Homeland
Through his foundation, Towns supports community programs and home-building for families facing financial hardship in the Dominican Republic, his late mother's home country, which he has represented in international play. After the Knicks won the NBA Cup in December 2025, he donated his entire $530,000 in prize winnings to this work.
Fighting COVID-19 After Losing His Mother
Towns lost his mother, Jacqueline, to COVID-19 in April 2020, and both of his parents were hospitalised with the virus. He donated to the Mayo Clinic to help expand testing capabilities and availability, and he has continued to support vaccine education and awareness.
Restore the Vote
Towns was a leading advocate for Minnesota's Restore the Vote bill, bipartisan legislation signed in March 2023 that restored the right to vote to more than 55,000 formerly incarcerated Minnesotans. He also works with All Square, which supports people recently released from prison.
Social Justice Champion
In May 2024 Towns was named the NBA's Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion for the 2023-24 season. A $100,000 donation was made on his behalf to the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities to advance health equity and support the mental wellbeing of Black and Brown youth, connected to his 32 Wellness work.
Food and Family Partnerships
Throughout his years in Minnesota, Towns partnered with the House of Charity Food Center in Minneapolis, The Salvation Army and HopeKids, and he was recognised with the NBA Cares Community Assist Award in November 2021.
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