The Utah Jazz were very proactive, launching a number of outreach eff orts via social media.
Helping Out in a Big Way
Jazz Make the Best of the Situation
While the coronavirus pandemic brought
sports events to a standstill, the Utah Jazz
organization made significant financial
and entertainment contributions to provide relief.
Jazzmen Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert,
and Georges Niang participated in public service
announcements for the NBA and the Utah and
Idaho Departments of Health, voicing positive
messages of support and inspiration.
Mitchell helped students in Granite School
District obtain a healthy meal at no charge, due
to the school closures, subsidizing a program for
food-insecure students. Gobert donated more than
$500,000 to support both the employee relief fund
at Vivint Smart Home Arena and COVID-related
social services relief in Utah and Oklahoma City
and within the French healthcare system.
Two player-driven podcasts provided weekly
entertainment, with Ingles Insight, featuring
Joe and Renae Ingles, and Drive & Dish, with
Georges Niang, while giving an inside look at
life and basketball. The guest list often extended
beyond sports to include Salt Lake City mayor
Erin Mendenhall and Utah epidemiologist Dr.
Angela Dunn, turning to subjects such as mental
health, fashion, and autism.
While everyone was spending time at home,
the Jazz players and head coach Quin Snyder
shared a digital cookbook of their favorite
recipes and experiences in the kitchen, leading to
entertaining moments and healthy food choices.
The Jazz unveiled a comprehensive slate of
programming to engage students during this
period of remote learning, called Jazz Youth at
Home. The content series was part of the NBA
Together campaign that aimed to support,
educate, and inspire youth, families, and fans
throughout this unprecedented time.
Program highlights included skills-anddrills
videos starring Jazz players and Jazz Youth
coaches, a bingo contest with unique activities
related to staying active and helping around the
house, a digital Jazz coloring book, a 30-day FIT
challenge with downloadable trackers for adults
and children, and Bear’s Reading Challenge,
which encouraged students to read for at least
600 total minutes during a month to be eligible
for prizes.
For fans missing basketball, the Jazz partnered
with AT&T SportsNet to rebroadcast more than
30 classic games, allowing Jazz fans to relive
memorable matchups. Members of the Jazz
broadcast team provided special pregame analysis,
commentary, and memories prior to tip-off.
Jazz television reporter Kristen Kenney
also contributed a digital series, called Acts of
Caring, that featured the efforts of people in the
community helping others to fight COVID-19.
Throughout the shutdown, The Zone Sports
Network had storytelling segments each day
recognizing the work of frontline and healthcare
workers.
During the time of social distancing, the
Jazz decided to go on a “bear hunt,” playing the
neighborhood game of placing a teddy bear in the
window for kids on walks and bike rides to spot.
A Jazz Bear picture was created to color and place
in windows, giving participants a chance to win a
signed player jersey through social media. ◆
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