LeBron James and Chris Paul with a Make-A-Wish child before the 2020 NBA All-Star game.
With the platforms and money they have, professional athletes can do so much to help strengthen, improve, and aid communities across the world. Many, many, players recognize this power and have done something about it. Whether that is through their own charities or their own endeavors, or through large scale ventures. Players have been doing this on their own for years, however, when a big organization, such as the NFL, MLB, NBA, or NHL steps in, the narrative shifts and even more work can be done.
Organizations, like the NFL, have really taken note of these players wishes of activism and philanthropy and have implemented outlets for them to express these concerns and promote whatever they wish to draw attention to. One of the ways the NFL has done this is through the My Cause My Cleats campaign where players design cleats with an organization of their choice, or for a movement that they are most fond of.
Highly Recommended (cute dog): See some of the My Cause My Cleats from 2019 here.
A very relevant example of this, especially with THON taking place this past weekend, is Trace McSorley (a current Quarterback for the Ravens who left Penn State last year to pursue a professional football career) who designed his cleats in honor of THON.
Another way the NFL is encouraging its players to be involved with their communities and encourage their charitable nature is through recognizing them for all they have done. One such way they have recognized their players is through the Walter Payton Man of the Year award which is annually awarded to the NFL player who has displayed “excellence on and off the field… Each team nominates one player who has had a significant positive impact on his community.” Beyond recognition and a trophy, the winner earns “$250,000 donated to the charity of his choice,” and, “all other 31 nominees will receive a $50,000 donation in their name donated to their charity of choice.”
The NFL isn’t the only major sports league that has created such an incentive. The MLB established a relationship with the Boys & Girls Clubs Of America (BGCA) in 1997 and has been strengthening this relationship ever since. Throughout this time, the MLB has supported programs which encourage children of all ages to get active and explore the wonderful sport that is baseball (not to mention all the benefits that come with it). The MLB has been a constant support factor for the BGCA and has committed to helping the Clubs grow, develop, and improve throughout the years.
The NBA has their own foundation known as NBA Cares through which they are constantly recognizing players for all their charitable acts, helping the players and teams find ways to reach out, and through sponsoring and HOSTING events for various foundations (such as the Special Olympics and the Make A Wish Foundation).
This video demonstrates one of the events held by NBA Cares as they brought in students from some of the after school programs in Chicago to have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet some of the NBA greats, and their heroes. The video also shows how through these programs between charities or foundations have not only impacted the communities, but they have also impacted the players who get a first hand look at what their contributions have done, and what they mean to their fans (especially the young children).
The NHL created its own charity, as well, called Hockey Is For Everybody. Through this foundation, the NHL has drawn attention to a wide variety of issues. It does this through promoting its message that hockey unites groups and that anyone can play if they want to. They have created an awareness through promoting and celebrating “Black Hockey History,” “Pride,” and “Girls and Women in Hockey.”
Through these charitable endeavors, professional sports leagues have made such an impact on their own communities, and communities across the world. Through giving players an outlet where they can be ensured that their time and money is going to the right place, and have a way to promote their actions to the greater community (and indirectly encourage more people to take action), professional sports leagues are making a valuable difference across the world.