Coach K has been diligently committed to public service, both locally and nationally, throughout his coaching career. He is currently serving on boards for, while also assuming vital roles with, the Duke Children’s Hospital, the V Foundation for Cancer Research, the NABC Foundation, the CEO Roundtable on Cancer, and the Emily Krzyzewski Center.
On Jan. 18, 2014, former President and co-founder of C-Change George H.W. Bush traveled to Durham to recognize Krzyzewski for his personal commitment and leadership in working to eliminate cancer as a public health threat. Coach K followed President Bush as honorary co-chair of C-Change from 2006-15, when the organization reconstituted.
Coach K is on the board of the Jimmy V Foundation for Cancer Research and has been active in the foundation since its inception in 1993. He and his wife, Mickie, have hosted the V Foundation Napa Valley Wine Celebration a record 14 times, an event that has raised tens of millions of dollars for cancer research.
An honorary chairman of the Duke Children’s Hospital, Coach K participates in the Children’s Hospital Radiothon and has been active in past events such as the Duke Children’s Miracle Network Telethon and the Duke Children’s Classic.
Coach K’s philanthropic activities also include the establishment and funding of the Emily Krzyzewski Center, a community center in Durham named in honor of his late mother. The Center’s mission is to inspire economically disadvantaged students to dream big, act with character and purpose, strive for academic excellence, and reach their highest potential as future citizen leaders.
The Center’s mission is to inspire economically disadvantaged students to dream big, act with character and purpose, strive for academic excellence, and reach their highest potential as future citizen leaders. Their K to College Model is founded on three core beliefs:
- A Dream-Do-Achieve approach can ignite dreams, inspire hope, develop character, and build the confidence of every child so that he/she can succeed.
- Education is the key to unlocking opportunities, developing productive citizens, and eliminating poverty.
- Every child has the potential to go to college and develop into a responsible citizen leader.
Visit the Emily K Center website to learn more.
Additional Efforts
In 2000, Coach K became the first winner of the Verizon Reads with the NABC Literacy Award.
In 2003, Krzyzewski launched K Academy, a summer fantasy camp, to assist with several Duke basketball projects, including the scholarship endowment fund.
Krzyzewski and his entire family, wife Mickie, and daughters Debbie, Lindy, and Jamie, have been involved in campaigns to stay in school and against alcohol, drug abuse, and drunk driving.
The university recognized Coach K’s contributions awarding him Duke’s highest honor — the Medal of Honor — at the University Founders’ Day Convocation in 1997.
In September 2001, Krzyzewski and his wife Mickie created the Krzyzewski Family Scholarship Endowment for Duke students from the Carolinas. The $100,000 scholarship, the result of the Krzyzewskis’ gift and additional funds from The Duke Endowment of Charlotte, will provide assistance to undergraduates from North and South Carolina.
During the fall of 2002, Coach K received an Honorary Alumnus Award from the Duke Medical Center for his contributions to the Duke Children’s Health Center. Krzyzewski and his family have made the center a focal point in their efforts to raise the standard of clinical care for children.
