North Fulton Today

As part of the team's fourth annual Black History Month Assist Challenge, the Atlanta Hawks recently presented a check for $130,000 to the Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF).

"We are overwhelmed by the generous support PCF has received from the Hawks and are honored to again join efforts to raise awareness and funds for prostate cancer research," PCF President and CEO Dr. Charles Ryan said in a recent release on NBA.com. "Our continued partnership with the Hawks during Black History Month has helped us reach so many men about the importance of understanding your risk for prostate cancer, especially Black men, who are disproportionately affected."

The team raised $65,000 in contributions that were matched by top team executives and the Ressler Gertz Family Foundation for an overall fundraising total of $130,000, the release said.

The Hawks have helped PCF raise approximately $650,000 through the annual Black History Month Assist Challenge, which was launched in 2019 to help support life-saving research, the release said.

Among its impacts, the challenge has sparked millions of impressions via media and furnished resources for prostate cancer screening as well as risk reduction and treatment at local outlets such as the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, the release said. The challenge has also sought to raise awareness of prostate cancer inequities in Black men. While one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime, the risk for Black men is 75% higher than for non-Hispanic white men.