We’ve compiled some of the biggest stories and news in sports philanthropy from the month of October 2018. Take a look at the latest updates from the industry and send us us your thoughts @tacklewhatsnext!
NFL
Eagles DE Chris Long is at it again with donating salary to charity
Eagles DE Chris Long is donating 25% of his 2018 earnings to support a United Way of Philadelphia Drive to increase early literacy in children from underserved communities through The Chris Long Foundation. Last year, Long donated his entire salary to charity.
Julius Peppers Starts Hurricane Relief Fund
Julius Peppers launched the Julius Peppers Hurricane Relief Fund to assist with the rebuilding process after Hurricane Florence. Peppers’ personally donated $100k into the fund and is encouraging fans, the community and NFL players to get involved.
Paul Allen, owner of Seahawks, Trail Blazers and co-founder of Microsoft, dies at 65
According to the Associated Press, Allen gave more than $2 billion to a wide range of interests, including ocean health, homelessness and advancing scientific research.
Wilson Foundation helping remake parks in Detroit, Buffalo
The Ralph C. WIlson Jr. Foundation has donated $50 million to both West Riverfront Park in Detroit and LaSalle Park in Buffalo. Each park will be renamed Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Centennial Park. Another $50million donation will support regional trails surrounding the two cities.
Jets’ busy Beachum uses many life passions to help others
Last week, NY Jets’ Kelvin Beachum was named the NFLPA Community MVP for his fight against hunger. On World Food Day, he gave $5k to the Food Bank for NY, saying he’d double it if proceeds were matched. His donations to food banks across the US could reach $75k, or 375k meals.
NFL’s Rodney McLeod‘s Student Health Impact Project (SHIP) offers free healthcare to youth
NFL’s Rodney McLeod‘s Student Health Impact Project (SHIP) provides dental, vision and other health services to students – for free.
Cincinnati Bengals’ Carlos Dunlap Supports Breast Cancer Survivors
The NFL season is in full swing & players are putting in work off the field for their team cities & hometowns. The NFLPA Week 6 Community MVP runner-ups include: Carlos Dunlap who hosted a spa night for breast cancer survivors and fighters and provided field passes to the Bengals game.
For the third straight year, Kenny Stills and some of his Miami Dolphins teammates rode along with Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies to promote understanding, respect, and equality in the community.
Miami Dolphins’ Kenyan Drake collects donations for Hurricane Michael relief
“Was sent this picture just now – first drop off of day two. Truck will be accepting donations until 5:30 today. If you can’t make it, please donate here (imagine if each of my followers gave just $5?)”
How NFL Teams Are Supporting Communities and Saving Dollars by Eliminating Food Waste
The San Francisco 49ers are working with Copia, a tech company reducing food waste by picking up untouched food and delivering it to shelters & non profit orgs. Over 26,000 lbs of food from the 49ers cafeteria has made 22,000 meals for the Santa Clara community
NBA/WNBA
Brooklyn Nets Forward Kenneth Faried Launched a Foundation From Fortnite
Brooklyn Nets Kenneth Faried started the Kenneth Faried HAT Foundation from charity winnings he won at a Fortnite tournament. “HAT” stands for Humble, Appreciative and Thankful and Faried works to instill those values in kids through basketball and other sports.
Why Joel Embiid picked Under Armour deal
Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid has signed a 5 year deal with Under Armour. Embiid said community impact was the deciding factor. He and Under Armour will partner on charitable initiatives in Philly and in Cameroon, where Embiid is from.
Wizards All-Star Bradley Beal Talks Investing, NBA Financial Literacy And His Biggest Money Regret
Bradley Beal of the Washington Wizards discusses how important financial literacy is and the opportunities that pro athletes have now in the business world. Athletes are great advocates to get young people involved with financial literacy programs.
Designing is always more fun when doing it for the kids. Introducing fresh new court look for 30 parks in Portland thanks to a more than $1 million donation by Nike and Trail Blazers.
NBA and WNBA launch Her Time To Play
The NBA & WNBA started “Her Time to Play” to keep girls from dropping out of organized sports. The initiative inspires 7-14yr olds to learn and play basketball. It offers basketball curriculum to youth orgs and will train 500 new female coaches.
Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony Give 1-Armed Hooper Who Broke Internet a Surprise of a Lifetime (B/Real)
Bleacher Report linked Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony with Trashaun Willis, the one-armed phenom who broke the internet with one dunk, for the surprise of a lifetime. Watch how Trashaun became a force on the court while backing up at QB for the varsity team.
Sports Stars Partner with Rock The Vote for US Voter Registration Campaign
Rock the Vote teamed up with athletes like Kevin Durant, Steph Curry and the WNBA’s Chicago Sky to empower a new generation. RTV saw the significant influence that athletes have to inspire young people to take action and are creating engagement opportunities in the sports space.
Nets’ Spencer Dinwiddie Leaps Basketball Hurdles to Become a Sneaker Pioneer (and give back)
Nets’ Spencer Dinwiddie is the only NBA player wearing sneakers he designed from scratch. His signature line donates 25% of sales to the Dinwiddie Family Foundation, which seeks to empower minority youth through fitness, literacy and education.
MLB
MLB Stars Lend Voices to Shred Hate in Bullying Prevention Month
The MLB is sharing public service campaigns during the playoffs this season to support their “Shred Hate” initiative. The initiative between ESPN, MLB and the X Games strives to put an end to bullying in schools by encouraging youth to choose kindness.
T-Mobile is supporting relief efforts for not just Hurricane Michael, but hurricane relief overall. Last year they started this campaign with hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria; and they intend to continue supporting relief efforts this season.
MLS
Inside the $30 million plan to make American soccer great again
26×26 is a $30 million initiative that will build 26 community soccer fields by the 2026 North American World Cup. The goal is to empower one million kids on the continent to build confidence and social skills, as well as encourage those in low-income communities to play soccer.
NHL
Tim Hortons Partnership with the first Kenyan Hockey Team
What a great example of how philanthropy can impact your brand and the community at the same time. From bringing the Kenyan players to Canada for their first game to funding a youth league, this is an amazing initiative.
WWE
Girl Up and WWE® Create Sports For a Purpose Program to Support Girls’ Leadership
Girl Up & WWE announced a multi-year partnership to support the creation of Sports For a Purpose, coming Fall 2019. The program will create a culture of sports participation for girls worldwide by equipping Girl Up’s leaders with resources to tackle the gender-based barriers that girls face to play sports.
NCAA & Youth Sports
Miami University sported helmets custom to each player to show how cancer has affected them.
“Cancer affects all of us. Together we can spread awareness and tackle cancer. On Oct. 13 our team will take the field in helmets unique to them. Each one of our guy’s helmets will feature a colored ribbon of their choice to represent how they have been affected by cancer.”
Pop Warner Partners With Concussion Education Program CrashCourse
All Pop Warner participants will now receive access to CrashCourse, an interactive online program that seeks to educate young athletes about concussions.
Corporate Social Responsibility Partnerships
During October, Buffalo Wild Wings is supporting youth sports programs at Boys & Girls Clubs nationwide through the Team Up for Kids mission. All restaurant locations will sell paper pinups and a limited edition BWW PopSocket, plus e-gift cards that give back 10% to the cause.
2K Games Program to Refurbish Basketball Courts in Underserved Communities
Through 2K Foundations, the video game publisher is planning to refurbish 12 basketball courts in underserved communities including Cleveland, Baltimore, LA & Chicago. As part of the refresh, Microsoft will outfit each location with Xbox One S consoles.
Healthier Generation, Laureus USA and Red Nose Day Team Up to “Reimagine Recess”
Healthier Generation, Laureus USA & Red Nose Day launched “Reimagine Recess” last week. The initiative focuses on the importance of recess for positive youth development. Via a #ReimagineRecess campaign, schools have the chance to win two $2,500 grants for new recess equipment.
How a Sports Tech Company Is Helping a Team in the Aftermath of Hurricane Maria
WSC Sports, the AI-powered video platform, has partnered with Puerto Rico’s premier pro basketball league in the wake of Hurricane Maria.
Setting a New Standard: How a Community Foundation Is Taking on Sexual Violence
The Fairfield County Community Foundation has funded a program called “Coaches as Partners”. This initiative invests in youth athletics to train coaches and leaders in the youth sports community on how to prevent sexual assault.
Athletics and philanthropy combine at The D10 finale in Houston
The D10 aligns with the premier pediatric cancer institutions in North America — in Houston, funds raised benefit The University of Texas MD Anderson Children’s Cancer Hospital — and D10 registrants earn their spot on the playing field by meeting The D10’s fundraising requirements. Since its inception, The D10 has raised nearly $12 million for pediatric cancer research. About half the donations D10 athletes collect come in the form of “performance-based pledges,” which can double or decrease depending on how well an athlete performs in a given event.
Small sports shoe company davi stepping up to take on giants
A new shoe company called davi plans to take a local approach when it comes to community impact. davi is estimated to launch in early 2019 and the founder, Gabe Williams (a former Nike employee), plans to donate 5% of revenue to local charities where his customers live.
Dr. Pepper & Good Sports partnered to provide approx. $150,000 worth of brand new sports equipment to 10 orgs serving youth. This is part of their Let’s Play High School Equipment Makeover Contest which has donated over $6 million worth of equipment to deserving orgs since 2014.
International
Chelsea FC Foundation Announces New STEM Education Program with EVERFI
Last week, the Chelsea Football Club Foundation and EVERFI officially launched the Digital Blue – Career Inspiration program which brings hands-on STEM teaching to 25 schools in Harlem at no cost. The partnership aims to inspire the next generation of STEM professionals.
Cricket Chiefs Aim to Reach 1M Kids Through 2019 World Cup
The England & Wales Cricket Board and International Cricket Council will team up to reach 1m UK kids during the 2019 ICC World Cup. In partnership with Chance to Shine, the program will use cricket as an educational tool and promote diverse growth in the sport’s grassroots clubs.
Canadian Olympic hopefuls get a ‘game-changing gift’ in $2.5M donation
The David and Ruth Asper family donated $2.5 million to the 5to8 campaign, the largest donation to Olympic sport in Canadian history. The campaign supports the generation of Canadian athletes who are 5 to 8 years from the podium. Donations are matched by the Canadian government.
Iran’s new breed of charities on poverty frontline
A recent soccer tournament hosted by Iranian nonprofit Imam Ali Popular Students Relief Society brought together a diverse group of local street children to build their self-confidence through sports and offer them an escape from the violence and poverty in their neighborhoods.
Para-alpine skier Anna Schaffelhuber becomes Laureus’ Ambassador
Seven-time Paralympic and nine-time world champion para-alpine skier Anna Schaffelhuber has been announced as Laureus’ newest Ambassador. Anna first experienced skiing as a five year old and received a scholarship to join a national skiing programme aged 14, despite being born with an incomplete spinal cord and paraplegia.
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