About Us

Damion Lee is an accomplished professional basketball player currently with the Phoenix Suns. Throughout his career, he has built an impressive resume, highlighted by being a finalist for the 2022-23 Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award, winning the 2022 NBA Championship with the Golden State Warriors, and representing the United States as a member of the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup team. 

Damion’s journey to the NBA began with a successful college career, where he played three seasons at Drexel University, before he transferred to the University of Louisville as a graduate student for the 2015-16 season. During his time at Louisville, he quickly developed a deep love for the city and its community. Inspired by this experience, Damion became determined to give back to the people and neighborhoods that had embraced him, setting the stage for his future community-driven efforts.

Off the court, Damion holds a bachelor’s degree in General Humanities and Social Science from Drexel University and began a Masters program in Special Education with a Concentration in Assistive Technology at the University of Louisville. 

Beyond basketball, Damion is dedicated to giving back to the communities which have shaped his life. In 2017, he co-founded The L.E.E. Way Foundation with his mother, Michelle Riddick, focused on supporting communities in Baltimore, Louisville, and Philadelphia. In December 2023, the foundation’s name was changed to Damion Lee Family Foundation to better reflect its family-driven mission. The foundation actively collaborates with local organizations, including Grace M. James Academy and the Chestnut Street YMCA in Louisville. Its initiatives include

hosting free basketball clinics, giving backpacks for Back-to-School Drive and an Annual Summer Cooking Camp, now in its third year.

To date, the foundation has donated nearly $50,000 to Grace M. James Academy, supported mental health initiatives, provided curriculum resources, and contributed to library and mindfulness spaces. They have also organized events such as the Annual Winter Ball Dance for students at Grace M. James and W.E.B. DuBois Academy. Additionally, the foundation partners with organizations such as JP Morgan Chase, Belmont Charter Middle School (PA), Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering (MD), the Maryland Fuel Fund, the Foster Children Alliance, and Helping Hands (AZ). 

 Michelle Riddick is the mother of NBA player Damion Lee,  Gulf War Veteran and dedicated Registered Nurse. With over 30 years of experience nursing experience, Michelle continues to serve in the healthcare field, providing compassionate care to those in need. She earned her Associate’s Degree in Nursing from Suffolk Community College and holds a Bachelor's Degree in Strategic Public Relations and Interpersonal Communications from Towson University.

Michelle’s passion for helping youth has been a driving force in her life. Her desire to create a positive impact on the next generation began at the age of nineteen, when she first envisioned starting a nonprofit organization aimed at fostering a nurturing environment for underserved youth. Today, Michelle remains committed to her mission of uplifting communities and empowering young people, particularly through the Damion Lee Family Foundation.