While the coronavirus pandemic brought sports events to a standstill, the Utah Jazz organization made significant financial and entertainment contributions to provide relief.
Jazzmen Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert, and Georges Niang participated in public service announcements for the NBA and the Utah and Idaho Departments of Health, voicing positive messages of support and inspiration.
Mitchell helped students in Granite School District obtain a healthy meal at no charge, due to the school closures, subsidizing a program for food-insecure students. Gobert donated more than $500,000 to support both the employee relief fund at Vivint Smart Home Arena and COVID-related social services relief in Utah and Oklahoma City and within the French healthcare system.
Two player-driven podcasts provided weekly entertainment, with Ingles Insight, featuring Joe and Renae Ingles, and Drive & Dish, with Georges Niang, while giving an inside look at life and basketball. The guest list often extended beyond sports to include Salt Lake City mayor Erin Mendenhall and Utah epidemiologist Dr. Angela Dunn, turning to subjects such as mental health, fashion, and autism.
While everyone was spending time at home, the Jazz players and head coach Quin Snyder shared a digital cookbook of their favorite recipes and experiences in the kitchen, leading to entertaining moments and healthy food choices.
The Jazz unveiled a comprehensive slate of programming to engage students during this period of remote learning, called Jazz Youth at Home. The content series was part of the NBA Together campaign that aimed to support, educate, and inspire youth, families, and fans throughout this unprecedented time.
Program highlights included skills-and-drills videos starring Jazz players and Jazz Youth coaches, a bingo contest with unique activities related to staying active and helping around the house, a digital Jazz coloring book, a 30-day FIT challenge with downloadable trackers for adults and children, and Bear’s Reading Challenge, which encouraged students to read for at least 600 total minutes during a month to be eligible for prizes.
For fans missing basketball, the Jazz partnered with AT&T SportsNet to rebroadcast more than 30 classic games, allowing Jazz fans to relive memorable matchups. Members of the Jazz broadcast team provided special pregame analysis, commentary, and memories prior to tip-off.
Jazz television reporter Kristen Kenney also contributed a digital series, called Acts of Caring, that featured the efforts of people in the community helping others to fight COVID-19. Throughout the shutdown, The Zone Sports Network had storytelling segments each day recognizing the work of frontline and healthcare workers.
During the time of social distancing, the Jazz decided to go on a “bear hunt,” playing the neighborhood game of placing a teddy bear in the window for kids on walks and bike rides to spot. A Jazz Bear picture was created to color and place in windows, giving participants a chance to win a signed player jersey through social media.