eBay, St. Jude Children’s Hospital and some top NBA stars are teaming up for special auction of signed jerseys.
Minnesota Timberwolves’ rookie Kevin Love is helping kick off the inaugural Rookie Relief for St. Jude, a fundraising campaign to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, one of the world’s premier pediatric cancer centers.
As ambassador of the campaign, Love joins the NBA’s top rookies and select league veterans in donating autographed game jerseys for an eBay auction. Other participating NBA players include LeBron James, Allen Iverson, Yao Ming, Dwight Howard, Dirk Nowitzki and Pau Gasol and as well as rookies Derrick Rose, O.J. Mayo, Michael Beasley, Brook Lopez and Greg Oden. The auction went online Tuesday and continues through November 20.
"Becoming ambassador of Rookie Relief for St. Jude was an easy decision," said Love, drafted by the T-Wolves out of UCLA. "As rookies we are blessed to make it to the NBA and play a game we love as a job. It’s our duty to give back," Love said. "I hope NBA fans will join us in support of Rookie Relief for St. Jude and help kids fighting cancer." Love has committed to matching funds raised through the auction up to $12,500.
The Rookie Relief for St. Jude auction is a fundraising promotion created out of the partnership between the NBA Summer League and St. Jude. The auction will be the cornerstone of annual fundraising program featuring top NBA rookies. The official announcement of the partnership was made during the NBA Summer League’s Tip-Off Reception on July 10 at the Platinum Hotel & Spa in Las Vegas.