WASHINGTON (April 25, 2025)—During the 2024-2025 NBA season, Charlotte Hornets All-Star point guard LaMelo Ball not only excelled on the court but also made a lasting impact off the court for people and their pets. As an ambassador for Humane World for Animals’ (formerly called the Humane Society of the United States) More Than a Pet campaign, Ball’s Points for Pets initiative directly resulted in the donation of 296,000 meals to pets in underserved communities across the country, supporting families facing economic hardship keep their beloved pets healthy and well-fed.
Points for Pets was launched at the beginning of the season, and Humane World for Animals committed to donating 250 meals to pets in historically marginalized communities around the country for every point Ball scored during the regular season. His strong performance this season, scoring 1,184 total points, is resulting in meals being distributed to numerous communities across the country in need, including many in North Carolina impacted by Hurricane Helene such as Asheville, Canton and Statesville.
“I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished through Points for Pets,” said Ball. “My dogs mean everything to me, and I want every pet to receive the care and love they deserve. Being part of More Than a Pet has been an amazing experience, and I’m thankful for everyone who helped make this possible. Seeing these meals go to families in North Carolina and other locations around the country means so much to me.”
An estimated 20 million pets in the United States live in poverty with their families and 70% have never seen a veterinarian. More Than a Pet shines a spotlight on this crisis and works to close the gap in access to essential pet care, supplies, and veterinary services through Pets for Life and Rural Area Veterinary Services which support hundreds of thousands of people and pets who do not have access to these essentials.
“LaMelo has not only been an incredible advocate for More Than a Pet but has also directly impacted the lives of so many families and their pets,” said Amanda Arrington, vice president, Access to Care, at Humane World for Animals. “Thanks to his support and generosity, we’ve been able to expand our outreach and distribution of much-needed pet food to some of the most underserved areas of the country. His leadership in this campaign exemplifies the spirit of community and compassion that More Than a Pet stands for. A key part of this work is to bring access to pet care for underserved communities.”
Together with its corporate partners, the More Than a Pet campaign raises awareness and funds for these critical programs and Humane World for Animals’ work for all animals. For additional information, please visit humaneworld.org/morethanapet.
#
LaMelo’s Instagram Post on Points for Pets
About Humane World for Animals
Together, we tackle the root causes of animal cruelty and suffering to create permanent change. With millions of supporters and work happening in over 50 countries, Humane World for Animals—formerly called the Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International—addresses the most deeply entrenched forms of animal cruelty and suffering. As the leading voice in the animal protection space, we work to end the cruelest practices, care for animals in crisis and build a stronger animal protection movement. Driving toward the greatest global impact, we aim to achieve the vision behind our name: a more humane world.
humaneworld.org
