Kids Posing at UNICEF Function

Sacramento Kings and NYC Kids Come Together for UNICEF

Sacramento Kings stars like Rudy Gay, DeMarcus Cousins, Ben McLemore, Isaiah Thomas, Derrick Williams and Jason Thompson joined forces with a group of high school students from the United Nations International School (UNIS) yesterday in New York City for 

 

"I learned a lot hanging out with these wonderful kids ... I want to keep building it"

— Ben McLemore

The NBA and the Sacramento Kings have been going all out for UNICEF USA all month long with former Kings great Vlade Divac heading an effort to provide children with clean drinking water. Kings players are wearing U.S. Fund for UNICEF warm-up shirts during pre-game shootarounds, the Kings’ arena is cloaked in UNICEF blue, fans can make donations to support UNICEF water projects right at the concession stands, and coaches and even broadcasters are wearing UNICEF USA lapel pins during games.

A team of kids from UNIS High School have been working just as hard for the world's children. When student Pranav Srinivasan founded the school’s End Poverty Club, classmates rallied around the cause. The group held a charity basketball game and quickly raised funds for the UNICEF Tap Project.

On Saturday, with Sacramento in town for tonight's matchup with the Brooklyn Nets, the two teams got together at a downtown Manhattan hotel. Pranav introduced the Kings to the End Poverty Club’s work. Sacramento players and coaches presented UNIS kids with warm-up shirts. UNICEF USA President and CEO Caryl Stern thanked both squads. Then the work began.

"To work with UNICEF is really special, so many lives can be saved"

— Jason Thompson

Students split up into teams, working side-by-side with Kings players and coaches to rehearse their lines and shoot a NBA/UNICEF USA video PSA. As the photos below prove — you can have a pretty good time while working together to make the world better for kids!

UNICEF USA is grateful to the NBA, the Sacramento Kings and the students at UNIS for all their efforts on UNICEF's behalf.

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 08: NBA athlete Isaiah Thomas(right) of The Sacramento Kings greet a student from The United Nations International School at an event recognizing New York City students for their efforts to help with the UNICEF Tap Project at Trump SoHo on March 8, 2014 in New York City. Isaiah Thomas greets a UNIS student with a Sacramento Kings / UNICEF warmup shirt. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images for UNICEF)

 

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 08: NBA athlete Derrick Williams of The Sacramento Kings and a student from The United Nations International School attend an event recognizing New York City students for their efforts to help with the UNICEF Tap Project at Trump SoHo on March 8, 2014 in New York City. Derrick Williams and his team partner rehearse their lines for the PSA. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images for UNICEF)

 

Rudy Gay and Orlando Johnson rehearse their lines with a UNIS High School student. Rudy Gay, Orlando Johnson and a UNIS High School student get ready to speak their lines on camera. (Photo by Michael Sandler for UNICEF USA)

 

NBA athlete DeMarcus Cousins of The Sacramento Kings and a student from The United Nations International School attend an event recognizing New York City students for their efforts to help with the UNICEF Tap Project at Trump SoHo on March 8, 2014 in New York City. DeMarcus Cousins and a UNIS student during taping. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images for UNICEF)

 

Ben McLemore poses for one of the many photos taken with UNIS High School students at an event recognizing New York City students for their efforts to help with the UNICEF Tap Project at Trump SoHo on March 8, 2014 in New York City. Ben McLemore poses for one of the many photos taken with UNIS High School students. (Photo by Michael Sandler for UNICEF USA)

 

Rudy Gay and a UNIS student after the PSA shoot. Rudy Gay and a UNIS student after the PSA shoot. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images for UNICEF)

 

NBA athlete Jason Thompson (L) records a PSA with a student from The United Nations International School at an event recognizing New York City students for their efforts to help with the UNICEF Tap Project at Trump SoHo on March 8, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images for UNICEF) Jason Thompson and a UNIS student hold steady while a classmate takes video. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images for UNICEF)

 

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 08: NBA athletes Carl Landry (L) and Travis Outlaw (R) record a PSA with a student from The United Nations International School at an event recognizing New York City students for their efforts to help with the UNICEF Tap Project at Trump SoHo on March 8, 2014 in New York City. Carl Landry, Travis Outlaw and a UNIS student recording the PSA. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images for UNICEF)

 

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 08: Members of NBA basketball team The Sacramento Kings and students from The United Nations International School pose for a photo with President and CEO of The U.S. Fund For UNICEF Caryl Stern(far right) at an event recognizing New York City students for their efforts to help with the UNICEF Tap Project at Trump SoHo on March 8, 2014 in New York City. Sacramento Kings players, UNIS students and UNICEF USA President and CEO Caryl Stern. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images for UNICEF)