Long before he became one of the NBA’s highest-paid stars, Donovan Mitchell made a decision that continues to shape the lives of young people across the country. Instead of spending every dollar from his first million-dollar paycheck, the Cleveland Cavaliers superstar invested $250,000 into his charitable foundation, SPIDACARES, to help students gain access to educational and athletic opportunities.
Good Works
Today, Mitchell has career earnings exceeding $188 million and an estimated net worth of about $60 million. But the New York native says giving back has been a priority since the very beginning of his professional career.
Selected with the 13th overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft, Mitchell signed a four-year rookie contract worth $14.6 million after starring at the University of Louisville. When his first major payday arrived, he focused on the people who helped him get there.
He reportedly purchased a home for his mother, bought her a new Audi, set aside $300,000 for his sister’s college education, and surprised her with the Jeep she had always wanted. He also committed $250,000 to launch SPIDACARES, a foundation dedicated to expanding educational opportunities and supporting youth through athletics.
Mitchell has often spoken about how his mother drove him throughout New York City and New Jersey for youth basketball tournaments. He also credits his education for broadening his perspective after attending private school, an experience that inspired him to help other children gain similar opportunities.
According to its website, SPIDACARES awards grants and scholarships to students with financial need while supporting education programs and athletic initiatives that promote leadership, confidence and healthy lifestyles. Mitchell’s mother serves as the foundation’s leader, helping oversee programs that benefit young people and families.
“We have the scholarship program where we bring Black and brown children who may not have the finances to go to private school,” Mitchell said in Andscape, explaining that the foundation has also helped students pay college tuition and supported teachers working in underserved communities.