Isaiah Thomas has been known to organize and participate in charitable contributions for many years in the various cities he has lived in. From organizing an event for the victims of a 10-alarm fire in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts to opening a gym for the Boys & Girls club in his hometown of Tacoma, Washington, Thomas places a high priority on giving back.

Now that IT is officially a Denver Nugget, he’s wasted no time getting involved in the local community by looking for ways to lend a helping hand.

Last week, Thomas filled 300 backpacks with school supplies and gave them away at the ShopNeck Boys & Girls Club of Metro Denver. Thomas has made the backpack giveaway an annual tradition since 2010.

Once a member of the Boys and Girls Club himself, Thomas remains a very active participant with the organization to inspire hope and hard work in others. While participating with the Cleveland, Ohio Boys & Girls Club, Thomas stated that his goal with maintaining an active presence with the organization is to show the young people he’s around that he’s just like them.

“Just show your face. I mean, I think that’s the most important thing. It’s not about your money. It’s more about your time. Because once these people in the community see that you’re just like them, that says more than any money you can ever give back to them.

“So I try to show my face as much as possible and show that I care. I mean, there’s people [here] going through way worse things than I’ve ever been through and they still got a smile on their face. Knowing that I’m blessed and able to give back is what I live for.”

In December of 2016, Thomas was given the Community Assist Award in Boston to recognize his philanthropic efforts in the community.

Sure, we’re incredibly excited to have IT in Denver to bolster the Nuggets’ back court, but it’s even better to bring such a positive influence to our local youth. Watching the Nuggets win with the help of someone who truly cares about the city he plays for will make it that much sweeter.

Glad to have you in Denver, Isaiah!