Ben McLemore a finalist for NBA Cares award

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Sacramento Kings guard Ben McLemore has been named a finalist for the 2014-15 Seasonlong NBA Cares Community Assist Award.

“I’m grateful to be in the position to give back to underserved communities and serve as a role model for kids across the country,” McLemore said in a press statement by the Kings. “Giving back and creating positive change is important to me, and I am humbled to be recognized by the NBA for the work I’ve done and will continue to do.”

McLemore’s nonprofit “All 4 Kids” has provided meals and presents to less privileged children in Kansas and Missouri. The 22-year old treated low-income Sacramento youth to a holiday shopping spree last winter, and regularly visits schools and shelters to promote reading and literacy by donating books and reading to children.

Kaiser Permanente and the NBA will donate $25,000 to the charity of the winner’s choice. McLemore designated Saint John’s Program for Real Change, which intends to buy a 15-passenger van to take homeless kids currently without transportation to and from school.

The winner will be chosen by NBA judges and fan votes. The window for voting is April 20-27. This can be done with a post on Twitter, an NBA Facebook account, or an Instagram post by using the hashtags #NBACommunityAssist and #BenMcLemore.

The pool of candidates includes Anthony Davis, Tobias Harris, Joakim Noah, Chris Paul, Klay Thompson, Russell Westbrook, Tyson Chandler, Pau Gasol and Damian Lillard. For more information, go to www.Kings.com/VoteBen and www.NBA.com/communityassist.

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