Kara Lawson of the Connecticut Sun has won the Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award in recognition of her outstanding work in the community in 2012, the WNBA announced Thursday.

The award recognizes the player whose outreach inspires the community and reflects Staley's leadership, spirit, charitable efforts, and love for the game.

Lawson was previously recognized for her achievements on and off the court with the 2012 Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award.

During the 2012 season, Lawson donated $50 for each three-pointer made to the Pat Summitt Foundation in honor of her collegiate coach, who was diagnosed with early-onset dementia.

The Pat Summitt Foundation seeks to raise awareness of Alzheimer's, its causes and help work towards a cure.

In 2012, Lawson finished the season with a team-record 74 3-pointers, and her donation was matched by the Connecticut Sun Foundation, the Mohegan Tribe as well as others and fan donations. In total, it raised 32,000. In January of 2013, Lawson was named an honorary co-chair of the Pat Summitt Foundation Advisory Board.

- Day Staff Reports