Los Angeles Clipper, and 7-time NBA All Star, Chris Paul recently hosted the CP3 Foundation’s Celebrity Server Dinner. He is a star on and off the court with his selfless contributions to various charitable organizations. The Celebrity Server Dinner honored two Los Angeles based organizations that work with children, L.A.’s BEST and Leaps n Boundz.

Having worked with such non-profit organizations including Feed The Children, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Boys & Girls Club and Habitat for Humanity, Paul explains how the benefiting organizations were selected. “I’ve been working with LA’s BEST since I joined the Clippers.  My brother and I attended an after school program when we were kids as our parents both worked.  I believe that a focused after school enrichment program is essential to the success of young people.”

He shares these sentiments on the importance of working with the Leaps n Boundz organization which provides athletic programs and team building activities for children with special needs.  “I have people in my life that have children with special needs and I understand the challenges that they face. My family and I believe that every child should have the opportunity to play a sport and know what it feels like to achieve success. Children with special needs particularly need that reinforcement and I know that Leaps n Boundz works toward that goal.”

In 2005, Paul and his family established the CP3 Foundation, a philanthropic partnership with The Winston-Salem Foundation in honor of his late grandfather, Nathanial Jones.A component of the foundation includes an annual scholarship to his alma mater Wake Forest University where he studied communications and religion for two years prior to joining the New Orleans Hornets.

When asked how has his college education from Wake Forest University benefited him in his professional career? As well as how he emphasizes the importance of education to males that want to focus their attention on athletics, Paul responded, “In my family, there would not be sports if my brother and I didn’t do well in school.  The time I spent at Wake Forest was invaluable to me.  I learned how to be a member of a team and was able to be mentored by Coach Skip Prosser.  He reinforced to all of us on the team about being men, working together for a common goal and understanding the importance of learning in the classroom as well as on the court.  I was blessed to have parents and grandparents who laid a strong foundation for my brother and I and it started with getting a good education.”  

Paul’s grandfather, was one of his biggest supporters and proponents of education. Paul says this about the significance of the scholarship, “My brother and I learned so much from my granddad.  He worked hard and believed in education.  Every year when we learn the names of the students who receive the scholarships in his name, it makes us so proud.” He continues, “I thought about him after the Celebrity Server dinner.  He would have been so happy to see that we’re helping to enrich the lives of young people.”

Television journalist Kevin Frazier was the emcee for the Celebrity Server festivities. Noteworthy attendees included Jerry Ferrara, Blake Griffin (L.A. Clippers) and DeAndre Jordan (L.A. Clippers) Glenn “Big Baby” Davis (Los Angeles Clippers), former NBA player Baron Davis and Laila Ali who acted as Maitre d’ for the evening. In addition to a featured performance by violinist Lee England.

Even with his affluent life as an athlete, Paul says he and his wife Jada will emphasize the importance of philanthropic work to their kids. “My wife and I believe that God comes first in your life and second comes your family.  We keep our children close to both.  My son, whose five years old, attends most of my charitable events.  We talk to him about giving back to people who don’t have as much as we do.  As my two year old daughter gets older we will also emphasize the importance of sharing and community service with her.”

When asked from all of the charitable work that he’s done, has there been any particular instance that resonates with him the most Paul says, “I think each and every opportunity I have to do some work in the community is special to me.  One of the things that stands out and always makes me smile is a video message I received from the kids who attended the CP3 Afterschool Zone, an after school program and I supported when I played in New Orleans.  They sent me a video to congratulate me and wished me well with my new team, the “Flippers.”  It was very special and still makes me smile.”