Joakim Noah wins Citizenship Award

Bulls center Joakim Noah was awarded the 2014-15 J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award on Thursday, the NBA announced.

The award is selected by the Professional Basketball Writers Association (PBWA) and is given to the player, coach or athletic trainer who demonstrates a commitment to community service.

Noah founded the Noah's Arc Foundation (NAF) to help support children affected by violence. The foundation recently started its "Rock Your Drop: The Drop of Consciousness" initiative, which encourages children affected by violence to use sports and art as a creative outlet.

"Joakim's initiatives to slow the violence in Chicago should inspire us all to help in our communities," PBWA president Josh Robbins said.

"His creative, sustained efforts stood out in perhaps the deepest pool of worthy candidates in the 41-year history of the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award."

Noah received the award over finalists Tobias Harris, Greg Monroe, Chris Paul and Zach Randolph. Luol Deng won the award last season.