NBA star Russell Westbrook continues to assist the youth throughout Los Angeles with his Why Not Foundation. In September, Westbrook held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for his newly renovated Westbrook Academy campus.
The new campus is operated by the L.A. Promise Fund. Why Not Foundation managing director Amelia Williamson worked to get the new campus running, which provides a state-of-the-art learning experience for middle and high school students.
“Over the last few years, we’ve really been working in partnership with the L.A. Promise Fund team to co-locate both schools,” Williamson said. “It really was a team effort to first get the building and now the kids are there.”
The campus has several amenities including two multimedia and film rooms, science labs, and two wellness centers that offer mental health resources.
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“We’re unveiling a few different experiences for the kids,” Williamson said. “It’s been really great to see those come to life.”
The school features legacy rooms that were sponsored by several partners, including The Thomas Tull Family Foundation and the Leap Theory/Pillars to Prosperity. The Westbrook Academy also have murals of Kobe Bryant, Rosa Parks, Cesar Chavez, and Nipsey Hussle among other prominent figures.
The Why Not Foundation provides workforce development, educational assets, and mental health resources to marginalized communities. Their partnerships help provide what resources those communities need the most. Along with the L.A. Promise Fund, the Why Not Foundation has collaborated with TEC Leimert, LeadersUp, and Conservation Corps.
“We just recently did a really cool event with [TEC Leimert] where it was just about the creative economies,” Williamson said. “It’s really about investing in the folks who know how to do this work.”
Along with partnerships, the Why Not Foundation holds fundraisers to support their causes. In September, the foundation partnered with World Poker Tour for their fourth annual Poker Night event in Las Vegas.
During his time with the Oklahoma City Thunder, the foundation used to do bowling events. The idea of a poker tournament sparked during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s something [Westbrook] enjoys doing and wanted to bring his friends along to support the foundation,” Williamson said. “We’re getting creative with how we think about the fundraising strategy within the event.”
For more information, visit https://westbrookacademy.org/ and https://whynotfoundation.org/.
