About the Center

• About Us
• History
• Management
• Network

History

A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, David Robinson spent 14 years in the National Basketball Association accumulating a long list of accolades including being named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History and induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. While David’s career achievements were exceptional, his community work off the court is just as distinguished. David and his wife Valerie opened the doors to the Carver Academy, an elementary school in San Antonio focused on inspiring students to become men and women who exemplify the principles of leadership, discipline, initiative and integrity – which was made possible through their personal donations of more than $11 million to the school and the community. In recognition of David’s outstanding contributions, since 2003 the NBA gives recipients of its monthly Community Assist Award the “David Robinson Plaque” who – as the plaque’s inscription states – “improved the community piece by piece."

Founded in 1991, Living Cities is an innovative philanthropic collaborative of 22 of the world’s largest foundations and financial institutions. Living Cities members participate at the senior management level on the organization’s board of directors, and contribute the time of 80+ expert staff toward crafting and implementing the Living Cities agenda of improving the lives of low-income people and the urban communities in which they live. In 2007, new leadership was established with the hiring of Ben Hecht as CEO as the collaborative deepens its impact with new initiatives that expand the definition of philanthropy.

In 2008, David Robinson and Ben Hecht were introduced through Dan Bassichis, David’s business partner with the Admiral Capital Group and Carver Academy board member. David had long realized the substantial need for support services to help sustain the long term results of his community investments.

As the relationship grew it became clear that the experience and expertise of Living Cities combined with David’s example would provide a perfect resource to other community minded athletes and entertainers seeking to make a significant impact in their own communities. After a year of feasibility studies, extensive interviews with leaders in the non-profit and sports and entertainment arenas, and the generous support of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Admiral Center was launched in January of 2009.