NBA veteran Myles Turner, a Bedford, Texas native, has donated $1 million to Empowering the Masses, a Dallas nonprofit organization that provides food assistance and community support services to families in need.
The donation, announced in September 2026, is expected to feed 500 families each week over the next decade, according to the nonprofit. The gift represents one of the largest individual contributions to a Dallas-area hunger relief organization in recent years.
Turner, who played for the Indiana Pacers before joining the Dallas Mavericks, has maintained strong ties to the North Texas community throughout his professional career. The Bedford native has been involved in philanthropic efforts in the region for several years, but the $1 million gift marks a significant escalation in his commitment.
Empowering the Masses operates food distribution programs, community outreach initiatives, and support services for low-income families across the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The organization has seen increasing demand for its services as food costs have risen and economic pressures have mounted on working families.
The donation comes at a time when food insecurity has become a growing concern in the Dallas area. Rising grocery prices, driven by inflation and supply chain disruptions, have put pressure on household budgets and increased reliance on community food programs.
Turner’s contribution will provide sustained support for the organization’s operations, allowing it to plan and expand its services with greater certainty. The 10-year commitment structure provides stability that nonprofit leaders say is rare and transformative for community organizations.
The gift also highlights the growing role of professional athletes in supporting Dallas-area community organizations. Several current and former NBA players with Texas connections have increased their philanthropic investments in the region, focusing on food security, education, and youth development programs. The trend reflects a broader shift in athlete philanthropy toward sustained, impact-oriented giving rather than one-time donations.
For Empowering the Masses, the Turner gift provides a level of financial stability that is rare in the nonprofit sector. Executive directors of similar organizations note that multi-year commitments allow nonprofits to invest in infrastructure, hire and retain staff, and plan program expansions without the constant pressure of fundraising cycles. The 10-year horizon of Turner’s pledge gives the organization runway to scale its operations and potentially serve as a model for other communities facing similar food insecurity challenges.
The Dallas-Fort Worth area has one of the highest rates of food insecurity among major U.S. metropolitan areas, according to data from the North Texas Food Bank. Nearly one in six residents in the region experiences food insecurity, with children and elderly populations disproportionately affected. The economic pressures of the past several years, including inflation and supply chain disruptions, have exacerbated the problem even as the regional economy has continued to grow.
Turner’s donation may also inspire other professional athletes and high-net-worth individuals in the Dallas area to consider similar long-term commitments. Nonprofit leaders in the region have emphasized the need for more sustained giving models, particularly as federal and state funding for social safety net programs faces uncertainty.
Sources: D Magazine
