South Florida Programming

D2C + Miami HEAT + Miami Police Department

NBA VALUES OF THE GAME AWARD

Congratulations to D2C’s partners, Michael McCullough, Executive Vice President / Chief Marketing Officer of the Miami HEAT and Steve Stowe, Vice President / Executive Director of the Miami HEAT Charitable Fund who are 2022 co-winners of the NBA’s “Values of the Game” Award. The award recognizes an individual or individuals who inspire and connect people everywhere, but specifically in their community, through the power of basketball.

Dedication To Community is honored to be a part of this work.

McCullough and Stowe won for their combined efforts in launching a first-of-its-kind partnership with the City of Miami Police Department and Dedication to Community (D2C) through a unique community building program designed to help bridge the gap between Black and Brown city residents and local law enforcement.

Press Release

Press Conference - April 21, 2022

The Miami HEAT, the City of Miami Police Department and Dedication to Community (D2C) have expanded their unique and ground-breaking partnership with the goal of training the entirety of the Miami Police Department. Longstanding HEAT community partner, Florida Blue, will help underwrite the cost. This announcement follows a successful pilot program, announced on September 3, 2020, which consisted of approximately 75 officers participating in the training. To date, D2C has educated approximately 500 Miami Police Department officers, local civilians and HEAT staff through the program.

A key component of the course emphasizes community interaction. To that end, in true Bonded by Ball fashion, Wilson, the official basketball of the NBA, has donated 1,000 basketballs to the HEAT, who will use the donation to equip each of the 900 officers of the force with a basketball to be carried in their vehicles and to be used for random pick-up games with South Florida youth.

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