NBA offering Miami Heat face masks as part of new initiative benefiting food banks
Face masks are the new hottest fashion trend in the COVID-19 era, and the NBA and Miami Heat are diving right in.
The NBA and WNBA partnered with Fanatics to release a line of team-branded face cloth coverings. Masks are available with logos from all 30 NBA teams and all 12 WNBA teams, including the Heat.
“As a global community, we can all play a role in reducing the impact of the coronavirus pandemic by following the CDC’s recommendation to cover our nose and mouth while in public,” said Kathy Behrens, NBA president of social responsibility and player programs. “Through this new product offering, NBA and WNBA fans can adhere to these guidelines while joining in the league’s efforts to aid those who have been directly affected by COVID-19.”
Masks for all NBA teams, including Miami, are available at NBAStore.com for $15 and $25, and proceeds from purchases will go to Feeding America in the United States and Second Harvest in Canada. The masks are available in two styles, one designed by Industry Rag for $15 and one designed by FOCO for $25. Industry Rag will also donate one mask to Feeding America and Second Harvest for every mask purchased, and FOCO will make an additional donation to the two organizations.
Masks are available in adult and youth sizes, and can be purchased individually or in packs of three.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has upended food bank operations causing shifts in distribution models and volunteer opportunities,” said Katie Fitzgerald, executive vice president and chief operating officer at Feeding America. “We are grateful to the NBA, WNBA and Fanatics for this partnership that will support food banks with funds but also with much needed face coverings to keep their staff, volunteers and neighbors in need safe.”
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now recommends the use of simple, cloth face coverings to cover faces while in public. On April 8, the Heat announced a partnership with Refried Apparel to repurpose $100,000 worth of unsold jerseys into more than 7,000 masks to be donated to local medical facilities in South Florida.
NBA play has been suspended more than a month because of the COVID-19 pandemic and no timeline is in place for a potential return to action.
