As frigid temperatures sweep across North Texas, the Dallas Mavericks called on MFFLs to donate new and gently used coats throughout January to benefit community members in need.

With over 800 coats collected, Mavs fans proved giving back is a team effort!

At the receiving end of this year’s Winter Warm Up donation were guests at Austin Street Center, a local non-profit providing safe shelter and basic needs to some of Dallas’ most vulnerable residents.

Mavs forward P.J. Washington helped cap off the 2025 Winter Warm Up by distributing coats and serving Raising Cane’s chicken finger combos to the 400 guests at Austin Street Center’s Sunday dinner service.

“It means a lot to be able to do this with the Mavs,” said Washington. “It’s a blessing just to be out here to see so many faces being gifted with jackets and food…to be here and see things like this, it just means the world to me. It’s bigger than basketball.”

For several years, Raising Cane’s has collaborated with the Mavs to give back to the DFW community, using their extensive network of local restaurants as the collection sites for donated coats.

While the Winter Warm Up has benefitted non-profits across North Texas since its inception, Austin Street Center has been a repeat beneficiary as one of Dallas’ largest homeless shelters.

“Over the past several weeks, we’ve been opening shelters all over the city to serve thousands of people, and we couldn’t have a greater time of need than right now for warm coats for folks we’re serving,” said Austin Street Center CEO Daniel Roby.

“It was great to get to meet P.J. Washington— it really means so much to all our folks staying here,” he added. “The biggest thing that we try to communicate is the importance of dignity to someone who doesn’t have a home. It’s so easy to feel left out, isolated and alone.

“Homelessness isn’t just about houselessness it’s also about a sense of unwantedness, so the Mavs being here gives them something to be excited about. It gives them hope and inspiration. And it really can turn the tide in terms of the course of their journey here.”

With over 800 coats donated by Mavs fans, the 2025 Winter Warm Up exemplified how the power of community and teamwork can create lasting impact.

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