Welcome to Last Week’s Wins #10!
I truly can’t believe it has been 10 weeks since I started this newsletter. That is 30 WINS in sports & entertainment. Thank you so much for following and sharing the Win-Win-Win Substack for these first 10 weeks of my journey.
This is obviously not an ordinary Thanksgiving week. But it is still an opportunity to be thankful for all of the positives that have come from this year.
For me, in the face of starting a career in the middle of a pandemic and getting knocked down a few times, I was able to start a business, publish my writing, continuously learn from incredible people, and marry my best friend.
Thank you 2020 for making me find the wins in every week and every day.
WINS THIS WEEK
Maryland Hall announces Athletes for the Arts event
Naomi Osaka partners with Nike x Beats By Dre
NFL fans support their players across the country
WHY THESE WINS MATTER
MARYLAND HALL MERGES ART AND SPORTS
On January 27, 2021, Maryland Hall will host a hybrid virtual/in-person event called Athletes for the Arts. Maryland Hall is located in Annapolis and is a center for art displays as well as events focused on art education and culture.
“Athletes for the Arts will highlight the importance of arts education in the lives of our students. We will lean into the stories of athletes and celebrities who have also found artistic success to underscore the critical role of the arts in developing into a well-rounded human being.”
This event is bringing together former Navy and NFL football player Eric Kettani, former Penn State and NFL player and founder of Project Mayhem, Aaron Maybin, and Six-time GRAMMY® Award nominee Nnenna Freelon.
This event will connect multiple industries. Arts, athletics, and corporate partners who are passionate about either will get the chance to get involved with the program as well as fund their advocacy operations and donations.
Maryland Hall is providing a platform to reach families on both sides of the economic spectrum through this event. Art, just like sports, has the potential to bring people together. If you are interested in getting involved or sponsoring the event, please reach out and let me know.
NAOMI OSAKA CONTINUES TO USE HER VOICE THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS
23-year old tennis phenom Naomi Osaka continues to use her voice to bring awareness towards issues she is passionate about.
Osaka has been very active in getting involved with sponsors who help spread her message and who believe in her calls for social justice reform.
Last week, the Nike x Osaka partnership dropped a clothing line that represents Osaka’s diverse heritage. Nike provided Osaka with the opportunity to tell her story about growing up with a Haitian father and Japanese mother in the United States.
Nike has also made Osaka a guest editor of iD Japan for the "Future Chaser: CLASS of 2021" project. This collaborative initiative spreads awareness of issues in Japan through different forms of writing and reflection.
“The long-sleeve shirt shows off the capsule’s key design tribute: a camo print inspired by the coordinates of Japan, Haiti and the United States. The digits from each nation were fed through a digital algorithm to create the unique pattern.” - Nike
In addition to the Nike partnership, Osaka and her boyfriend, Hip-Hop sensation Cordae, are both involved in a partnership with Beats by Dre for the new Beats Flex headphones.
I will admit my bias as a Cordae fan, but I have to say this ad that included an unreleased Cordae song as well as a powerful “SILENCE IS VIOLENCE” message from Osaka made me very interested in the brand and what they are doing moving forward.
I am part of the target market for a majority of studies that talk about, “the next generation of brand affinity.” Both Nike and Beats by Dre have my attention for their authentic contributions to bringing awareness towards societal issues.
Through these partnerships, both Nike and Beats by Dre are introducing history and reform movements to a wide audience. The impact and true brand connection with consumers comes by presenting these ideas alongside well-known and respected figures across industries.
FANS SUPPORT NFL ATHLETES OFF THE FIELD
Two weeks ago I was going to include Bills’ fans supporting John R. Oishei Children's Hospital in honor of Josh Allen’s grandmother’s passing as a win. The fans donated in increments of $17, alongside a $17,000 donation from Allen, and raised over $500,000.
Sadly, like many great initiatives I read about, it did not make the cut.
I am very happy this week to give a win to NFL fans all over the country. Cardinals’ fans in Arizona decided to join the Bills’ fans by donating to the same hospital. They recognized the authentic inspiration behind the movement and past movements and became inspired to support.
This movement was also replicated in Baltimore after Center Matt Skura received threatening messages after a poor performance in Week 10. Ravens’ fans rallied behind Skura and his contributions towards the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation.
These fan-inspired movements across the country are displaying the power and influence of sports. These movements are evidence that when we all work together, even through small acts, the impact created can be felt on a massive scale and leave a legacy.