Welcome to Last Week’s Wins #12!
As we wind down 2020 it is important to note that through all of this years’ challenges, leaders and innovators in sports & entertainment are continuing their efforts to drive change.
This is evident in the last week through partnerships formed by MLB and their new partner leagues, Venus Williams’ new vegan company, and NBA Rookie of the Year Ja Morant working on a new rising stars docu-series.
We are seeing collaboration and innovation on new levels every week and the new year can only bring more opportunities for positive action!
WINS THIS WEEK
NCAA Basketball Coaches join together for “ERACISM” movement
Pharrell Launches Black Ambition VC Fund
Curry Brand Launched by Under Armour
WHY THESE WINS MATTER
NCAA BASKETBALL COACHES JOIN TOGETHER FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION MOVEMENT
The National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), led by Vice-President and Stevenson men’s basketball coach Gary Stewart have launched a social inclusion movement called ERACISM.
This movement focuses on change through education, awareness, and action. This group of D-I, D-II, and D-III basketball coaches have formed a committee to spearhead initiatives across the country throughout the college basketball season.
These coaches, from universities like Texas Tech, Ohio State, Howard, and UMBC, are sparking change in their industry by having conversations and educating their communities. The NABC currently has many awards and recognitions that honor the history of minorities in coaching.
ERACISM initiatives include:
Free Throws to ERACISM
Coaches competing in a virtual free throw tournament while providing personal messages against racism
This Game is No Secret
Annual Tribute to Coach John McLendon, the first African-American coach to win an integrated national championship.
Coaching Inclusion
Promoting African American Coaches in High-Profile Jobs
“Currently there are only eight black head coaches at Power 5 schools. Just 8 of the 65 head coaches in the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC are African American.”
The group is calling for more coaches to join the movement and bring awareness to the history of pioneers for inclusion in collegiate coaching.
Collegiate collectives can be very influential and create real change. The ACC and Center for Research in Intercollegiate Athletics also recently launched an initiative that provides $22,000 in grant funding for projects focused on issues in college athletics administration.
PHARRELL LAUNCHES AN ACCELERATOR FOR MINORITY ENTREPRENEURS
Pharrell has joined the list of celebrities launching investment support organizations. He recently launched Black Ambition, “an incubator for Black and Latinx entrepreneurs launching startups in tech, design, healthcare and consumer products.”
Pharrell is working with HBCU’s and other universities to provide more than just financial capital. The entertainment superstar is creating mentorship opportunities within these investment communities.
“Part of what Black Ambition is going to do is say ‘here are folks that are investable and will be creating the next big companies of the future’. Venture capitalists are becoming more diverse but there’s still not capital going to those new venture players. It’s a huge market opportunity.” - Willa Seldon, partner at Bridgespan,
Pharrell is taking an authentic step forward in a way he can best support the next generation with the spread of knowledge, opportunities, and wealth. Big-name athletes such as Kevin Durant, Venus Williams, and Klay Thompson have also recently invested in organizations they believe will make a difference.
As we approach a new year, it is clear to athletes, fans, and sports & entertainment professionals that the legacy left by superstars is not from on-screen or on-field, but from the actions taken to create social change.
CURRY BRAND LAUNCHES TO ‘CHANGE THE GAME FOR GOOD’
Steph Curry, like Michael Jordan, now has his own brand.
Last Tuesday, Under Armour’s star athlete since 2013 launched Curry, a legacy brand focused on, “making a lasting impact in everything we do, for better, forever.”
Curry Brand products include apparel, footwear and accessories for mostly basketball and golf. However, the biggest feature is the brand’s commitment to supporting the development of 100,000+ young athletes by 2025.
“We’ve been working on this for the last couple of years, and got to a place where Curry Brand could exist in a very authentic way, in terms of things I have passion about, from basketball and golf to running and training,” - Steph Curry
The Curry Brand is UA’s first stand-alone signature brand. For Steph, this move is a chance to develop his legacy off of the court. The NBA superstar has already been a key leader in sports philanthropy for years and this brand creation and partnership can help him reach to new levels with his outreach.
According to Front Office Sports, by 2025, Curry Brand also aims to:
Invest in basketball court renovations to create at least 20 safe places to play.
Support 125 school and community programs that impact young athletes.
Deliver opportunities to recruit and develop more than 15,000 coaches.
Curry Brand has already announced a partnership with the Positive Coach Alliance to work in the Oakland Unified School District and Oakland Parks & Recreation Department.
“I think people can see through the BS, the noise around brands trying to do too much. But at the end of the day, it’s the timing for me to be able to go all the way in, not just trying an idea but being a part of every touchpoint for the brand, how it’s expressed through the product, through storytelling, and in the community.
This partnership model will provide a great foundation for other cities, say Under Armour’s hometown Baltimore, to collaborate and expand opportunities with the Curry Brand and city leaders.