Elena Delle Donne is closing in on her first WNBA MVP Award, but off the court she’s already an MVP. And for her efforts, the WNBA has rewarded her with the Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award for the second year in a row.
NEWS: @De11eDonne earns back-to-back Dawn Staley Community Service Leadership Awards #FOROURTOWN pic.twitter.com/BnNF6cTjWK
— Chicago Sky (@chicagosky) September 3, 2015
The award, “recognizes a player whose outreach inspires the community and reflects Staley’s leadership, spirit, charitable efforts and love for the game.” And that is certainly a perfect description of Delle Donne.
From her work with her sister Lizzie, to visiting sick children in the hospital, to hosting and coaching basketball clinics, and working with the Special Olympics, Delle Donne is volunteering as much as she’s playing basketball.
In addition, Delle Donne does great work for those affected with Lyme Disease.
"“Delle Donne has also helped raise awareness of Lyme disease, an ailment from which she suffers. After battling the disease for six years, Delle Donne became the first national ambassador for the Lyme Research Alliance (LRA), an organization dedicated to increasing awareness and funding for Lyme disease research and prevention. As an ambassador, Delle Donne will appear at LRA events across the country, spreading hope and awareness in search of a cure.”"
Said Delle Donne upon receiving the award,
"“I strive to use the unique position I’m in to help make a difference in people’s lives, and I’m thankful to the WNBA, Special Olympics, Global Lyme Alliance and Dawn for encouraging me to do so. By sharing my own experiences, I have been able to help educate and inspire others to overcome their personal challenges, and I will always continue doing that.”"
When EDD takes home the MVP trophy later this year, it will have a nice spot to sit right between her two Dawn Staley Community Leadership Awards.