The NBA Foundation has announced twenty-two grants totaling $6 million in support of efforts to create employment opportunities, further career advancement, and drive greater economic empowerment for Black youth.

The foundation's third round of grants was awarded on the one-year anniversary of the foundation's incorporation and boosts its total giving to $11 million to date. Recipients include Black Girl Ventures, which works to provide Black and Brown women-identifying founders with access to community, capital, and capacity building to drive economic advancement through entrepreneurship; iMentor, which builds mentoring relationships that empower first-generation students to graduate from high school, succeed in college, and achieve their career ambitions; and the Hidden Genius Project, which trains and mentors Black male youth in technology creation, entrepreneurship, and leadership skills.

Additional recipients include the Center for Teen Empowerment in Boston, which aims to inspire young people to think deeply about difficult social problems and provide tools and skills to help them use their voices and catalyze significant positive change; the Sphinx Organization in Detroit, which works to transform lives through the power of diversity in the arts; the Running Rebels Community Organization in Milwaukee, which engages the community, youth, and families to prevent involvement in the juvenile justice system and intervenes and guides youth to assist them with positive decision making; All Star Code in New York City, which is dedicated to building a sustainable talent pipeline of young men of color ready to enter, thrive, and lead in the technology industry; and Hopeworks Camden in Philadelphia, which is focused on providing a positive, healing atmosphere that propels young people to build strong futures and break the cycle of violence and poverty.

"We're thrilled to celebrate our one-year anniversary by awarding twenty two deserving recipients with new grants that will further their efforts and our shared mission to create short- and long-term opportunity for Black young people," said NBA Foundation executive director Greg Taylor. "The commitment shown by NBA players, teams, and governors in our inaugural year has been inspiring, and we look forward to deepening our efforts and operating with intention to reach more youth in additional cities in the years to come."

(Photo credit: Getty images NBAE)