New York Knicks NBA player Karl-Anthony Towns speaks during the “Kings of New York’ discussion panel on day 3 of the Fanatics Fest NYC 2026, held at the Javits Center, New York, NY, July 18, 2026. Photos: by Anthony Behar/SipaUSA

New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns attended a fundraiser on Monday night in New York City in support of the Jewish organization Chazaq, which aims to provide Jewish children, particularly those from the Bukharian community, the opportunity to have a Torah education.

The NBA champion and Dominican American athlete addressed attendees and told them it was “an honor to be able to play for y’all and represent what this city is.” He thanked the crowd for welcoming him and allowing him to share a meal with them, and also mentioned his late mother, who died in 2020 from COVID-19, and the values of love that she taught him. At the fundraiser, which took place at Reserve Cut in Manhattan, the Chazaq organization gave Towns a gift promoting its “speak no evil” anti-bullying campaign.

A native of Edison, New Jersey, the athlete’s appearance at the Chazaq fundraiser comes a little more than a month after the Knicks’ NBA championship win on June 13 against the San Antonio Spurs.

In 2023, Towns posted a message on social media in honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day.