Suns Charities team up for Booker ‘Starting Five’ hoodie
Phoenix Suns Charities announced on Thursday its collaboration with Phoenix-bred muralist, street artist and designer Sentrock to create a limitededition hooded sweatshirt commemorating the 2022-23 season’s Devin Booker Starting Five class.
Booker and the Suns revealed this season’s hoodie on their Instagram accounts the same day.
Booker launched his Starting Five philanthropic program in 2019 to annually pledge $2.5 million to Phoenix Suns Charities. They select five deserving organizations to receive a $100,000 grant.
“It’s one of the most exciting things that I’m a part of, I’d say mostly because we’re 20 organizations in now, all nonprofits here in Arizona,” said Booker after the Suns beat Charlotte on Wednesday.
“We’re still trying to find creative ways to surprise the people, and to do it here on our home court in front of everybody is a special moment.”
The initiative is designed to improve the lives of youth and families in need throughout Arizona.
In the program’s second year, Booker started an exclusive apparel component to partner with artists and engage fans in the initiative. Proceeds of each sale benefit Phoenix Suns Charities.
Sentrock’s signature character, Bird City Saint, is the focal point of the sweatshirt’s artwork. The character symbolizes a young individual that wants to be able to fly and pursue their dreams. The artist developed much of his skill set creating street art in Mexican-American neighborhoods.
“You kind of dream about working with the organization I grew up seeing. Me being a ‘90s kid seeing Barkley and KJ, so when I got the call, I knew I had to go all out for this,” said Sentrock. “The Starting Five design to me shows five characters coming together in unity.”
In addition, Booker’s work with Sentrock continues the Suns’ three-time All-Stars’ string of charity work with Phoenix’s Mexican-American community. Booker was at the recent court dedication project ceremony at Chicanos Por La Causa Community Center in Phoenix on Feb. 1.
The Starting Five sweatshirt are now available at Phoenix Charities online shop while supplies last.