NBA Legend Tim Hardaway and Sands Cares Ambassadors Bring Warmth to the Community

Spreading care to the underprivileged through boxed lunch distribution
Part of “NBA Cares x Sands Cares Community Impact Week”

(Macao, Oct 10, 2025) – NBA Legend Tim Hardaway extended his heartfelt care and encouragement to Macao’s underprivileged communities Friday, helping distribute boxed lunches at the Fuhong Society of Macau’s Pou Choi Centre. The outreach event is an initiative of the “NBA Cares x Sands Cares Community Impact Week,” taking place alongside the Oct. 10 and Oct. 12 match-ups of The NBA China Games 2025 at The Venetian Arena.

Around 240 people participated, including Grant Chum, chief executive officer and executive director of Sands China Ltd., teachers from NBA Cares’ “Her Time to Play” initiative, Sands Cares Ambassadors, volunteers from the Yao Foundation, and members of the Fuhong Society of Macau.

Accompanied by Fuhong members, attendees toured the Pou Choi Centre to learn about its variety of services. During the visit, NBA Legend Tim Hardaway interacted with Fuhong members and showcased his basketball skills. They then gathered at the centre’s training restaurant – Corner of Portuguese Cuisine – to distribute the boxed lunches along with health kits prepared during the impact week’s tip-off to 200 local residents in need – sending warmth and compassion to the community.

Corner of Portuguese Cuisine is a vocational catering programme under the Pou Choi Centre, designed to provide hands-on, integrated training for individuals recovering from mental health challenges. Through real-world work experience, participants build confidence and contribute meaningfully to society.

“Community care is a core value of Sands China,” said Grant Chum. “While bringing a high-profile international sports event to Macao, Sands Cares and NBA Cares have jointly organised a boxed lunch distribution initiative, inviting NBA Legend Tim Hardaway into the community to bring warmth to local underprivileged residents. This initiative also supports the catering vocational training programme for people in mental health recovery run by Fuhong Society of Macau. We firmly believe that sports have the power to unite people and inspire hope. Through the influence of NBA Legends, we aim to raise public awareness and compassion for vulnerable groups, infusing positive energy into the community and fostering a caring, harmonious society.”

Maria de Fatima, president of the general assembly of Fuhong Society of Macau, said: “Our heartfelt gratitude goes to NBA Cares and Sands Cares for bringing the vibrant spirit of the NBA into the community by organising the boxed lunch distribution event, extending care and compassion to the underprivileged and spreading warmth and blessings throughout society.”

Running Oct. 8-12, the five-day impact week coincides with The NBA China Games 2025 at The Venetian Arena Oct. 10 and 12. NBA Legends including Mitch Richmond, Hardaway, Yao Ming, Shawn Marion, and Deron Williams, as well as current players from the Phoenix Suns and Brooklyn Nets, are taking part in impact week’s series of community events, using basketball as a bridge to extend NBA Cares’ spirit of compassion and connection to the Macao community. The events include a basketball exchange at a local school, a “Her Time to Play” clinic, and a community basketball carnival.

The carnival combines various sports-themed games and exciting performances and is being held Saturday at the NBA House in Hall A of The Venetian^® Macao’s Cotai Expo. A highlight will be members of local NGOs playing basketball with NBA Legend Shawn Marion.

These activities and other community initiatives by Sands China are part of the Sands Cares global corporate citizenship programme. With Sands China being an important stakeholder in the local community, the programme is an influential tool that illustrates the company’s unwavering commitment to contribute to society, serving as an important connection between Sands China and local residents.

Photo caption: NBA Legend Tim Hardaway, teachers from NBA Cares’ “Her Time to Play” initiative, volunteers from the Yao Foundation, and Sands Cares Ambassadors visit the Pou Choi Centre of Fuhong Society of Macau Friday to learn about the centre’s various services and to distribute boxed lunches in the community. The visit is part of the “NBA Cares x Sands Cares Community Impact Week.”

Photo caption: Hardaway showcases his basketball skills and interacts with members of Fuhong Society of Macau during his visit to Fuhong’s Pou Choi Centre Friday.

Photo caption: Accompanied by Fuhong members, Hardaway (left photo, second from right) and Grant Chum (left photo, third from right), chief executive officer and executive director of Sands China Ltd., tour the Pou Choi Centre Friday.

Photo caption: Tim Hardaway and Grant Chum distribute boxed lunches to local residents in need on Friday, sending warmth to the community. The initiative is part of the “NBA Cares x Sands Cares Community Impact Week.”

Photo caption: Sands Cares Ambassadors prepare boxed lunches for local residents in need on Friday as part of the “NBA Cares x Sands Cares Community Impact Week.”