If you live around Milwaukee’s southwest side, you may have caught a glimpse of Giannis Antetokounmpo and his wife Mariah Riddlesprigger along with their two children on Layton Ave last year. They were handing out essentials such as diapers, wipes, and food to local families in need. They were part of the Milwaukee Diaper Mission drive-up distribution event at Hayat Pharmacy and now the NBA star couple is back this year with Mariah making a passionate plea.

The Milwaukee Diaper Mission, a non-profit org, began in 2020 to help families in need, especially new moms. And when the Cream City‘s very own Antetokounmpo family learned firsthand how expensive baby products, particularly diapers, were, they decided it was an initiative they wanted to be a part of. About two months after the birth of their second child, Mariah Riddlesprigger and Giannis partnered with MDP to host ‘Maverick’s Diaper Mission’ in 2021. Since then, the mother of three has been at the forefront of the cause.

Mrs. Antetokounmpo is back with ‘The BIG Give Back’, a mission to spread awareness and raise money. ‘The BIG Give Back’ has the support of CAFF, a.k.a., the Charles Antetokounmpo Family Foundation, as well. Taking to Instagram, Mariah Riddlesprigger Antetokounmpo made it a point to drive home the point that the shortage of diapers is a major crisis in Milwaukee families.

“When I became a mom, I quickly realized just how expensive raising a child can be. It’s heartbreaking to know that 1 in 2 families in Milwaukee struggle to afford diapers and wipes, basic needs every parent should have access to,” she wrote. In fact, it isn’t limited to just their city. Per the CAFF official website, 1 in 3 families in the United States of America struggle to afford diapers. Needless to say, since the Antetokounmpos have arrived in the ‘Brew City,’ Milwaukee has seen great changes.

“With the Charles Antetokounmpo Family Foundation (CAFF) matching all donations to The BIG Give Back up to $50,000, we have a unique opportunity to double the impact of your support. Because of the contributions from our community, Milwaukee Diaper Mission has distributed millions of diapers, but there is still so much more to do. I invite you to join me and my family in making a difference this year—together, we can provide a blessing to those who need it most,” Riddlesprigger added in her IG post on September 22.

There will be a 12-hour diaper drive hosted by Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin on Wednesday, September 25, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 8701 W. Watertown Plank Road. ‘The BIG Give Back’ will also include a drive-through community distribution event which will be held on Friday, September 27 from 12 p.m. until 2 p.m. During this time, volunteers will hand out 35,000 diapers to families in need. In her post, Mariah also mentioned that the link to donate was in her IG bio.

The association between the Antetokounmpo family and the Milwaukee Diaper Mission came after Mariah Riddlesprigger had a sudden realization after the birth of her second child, Maverick Shai. In a 2021 interview, she said, “I have my days, like any other mom. Being completely real, it’s tough, but it’s a blessing right because who wouldn’t want to have two healthy boys. But just realizing how expensive diapers are, especially with the second one. I was just like oh wow, something needs to be done.” Giannis, himself was eager to help.

He mentioned, “We grew up without having a lot of stuff. Without having diapers or having the same diaper for the whole day or two days,” while his wife added, “I could buy two packs of diapers, where some people I know can’t even buy or know how they are going to get diapers for the next day.”

At that time, Milwaukee Diaper Mission had helped needy families with more than 173,000 disposable diapers and nearly 2,000 cloth diapers. Thus for Giannis and Mariah, teaming up with them was a no-brainer. In 2022, they carried out the free distribution of diapers and essentials to local families and followed it up last year as well.

‘The Big Give Back’ in 2023 driven by Charles Antetokounmpo Family Foundation, gave away 40,000 diapers, enough food, and children’s pain relievers for 300 families. There was also a diaper and wet wipes collection event at the Fiserv Forum on October 29 when the Milwaukee Bucks played the Atlanta Hawks.

Last year also saw the Giannis Antetokounmpo and Mariah welcome their third child when their daughter Eva Brooke was born. In her Instagram message, Mariah also shared why the mission is important to them.

She wrote, “This mission is close to our hearts because we’ve seen firsthand how much of a difference community support can make for families.” As of right now, the MDM has distributed two million diapers, 47,000 packs of baby wipes, and 4,400 cloth diapers, according to their website.

After all, having an NBA icon like the Greek Freak in their corner is bound to have its advantages. And the hooper’s family foundation is certainly a source of relief for many.

Mariah Riddlesprigger Antetokounmpo’s diaper mission isn’t the only initiative CAFF is invested in

Being a mother, it’s understandable why Mariah would be more invested in the diaper mission. And the Charles Antetokounmpo Family Foundation’s financial backing is definitely a solid support. But for CAFF, the MDP is just one among many partnerships. As of now, CAFF has five partners with whom they join hands to contribute in what little ways they can to change the world to a better place.

Aside from MDP, Giannis Antetokounmpo has partnered with WhatsApp and NABU Nigeria to preserve their culture and honor his Nigerian roots and at the same time increase literacy. The latest in their campaign is the celebration of International Literacy Month under the theme “Stories that Connect, Languages that Unite.” According to NABU.org, they will be hosting a variety of exciting events from August 26 to September 26.

The next partner is Antidote Health. Per the official website, CAFF and Antidote Health are working together to ensure quality healthcare, including improving mental health, is accessible to everyone. Their third is MDP. And as we have already seen, they work for the betterment of mothers and babies. But perhaps the one thing we didn’t mention is they also provide period supplies.

International Rescue Committee (IRC) is CAFF’s fourth partner. Started in 1933 by Albert Einstein and a small group of humanitarians, IRC now works in over 50 countries to help those affected by humanitarian crises to survive, recover, and rebuild their lives. And the last partner is the Vin Baker Bouncing Back Foundation – also an NPO. Founded in 2018 by former 4x All-Star and the current Bucks’ assistant coach, Vin Baker, it addresses addiction and helps promote sobriety.

No wonder the Milwaukee community loves the Antetokounmpo family so much! Considering how Giannis and Mariah are using their position, reach, and influence to tackle key issues in their society is, in a word, inspiring. A true example of not forgetting one’s roots.

Before you go, remember to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Silas Demary Jr.