Lenny and Marilyn Wilkens believe every child deserves access to quality healthcare and the opportunity to receive a competitive education. This NBA couple, along with their three children, extended family, and community of friends, have raised well over $2 million during the past decade to help hundreds of families in the Pacific Northwest. Since growing up in New York, Lenny and Marilyn have put down deep roots in Washington State, which they’ve called home for several decades.

Lenny is a former NBA player and the leagues’ all-time winningest coach. He is one of only three players inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame as both a player (1989) and coach (1998). Lenny is the only NBA representative listed among both the all-time top 50 players and top 10 coaches. A member of the Providence College Athletic Hall of Fame, he has been inducted into the Halls of Fame in New York, Missouri, Ohio, and Washington, as well as the African-American Ethnic Sports Hall of Fame. As a player, Lenny was a nine-time NBA All-Star team member and Most Valuable Player in 1971. Lenny was one of the most successful coaches in franchise history for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Atlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors, and Seattle SuperSonics. Despite his numerous NBA honors, one of his proudest moments was coaching the United States “Dream Team” to a gold medal in the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics.

Beyond his many successes on the court, Lenny has received Honorary Doctorate degrees from Providence College, St. Francis College, and Seattle University. He served as vice chairman of the Seattle SuperSonics ownership group.

Lenny and Marilyn are proud of their family’s involvement in the Lenny Wilkens Foundation and steadfast commitment to their community. With an active year-round schedule, any given day might find Lenny hosting a corporate team-building workshop, working the sidelines of an athletic event, lending his presence to a charity fundraiser, advising NBA and Olympics colleagues, and focusing on his family. On rare occasions, he enjoys a round of golf.

Letter from our Founder