Big League Philanthropist

In this week's roundup of articles from the world of athlete activism and sports philanthropy, Danielle highlights Russell Westbrook's work off the court, Russian politics impacting the NHL, the debate amongst athletes on activism, the human rights abuses of the Qatar 2022 World Cup and history being made in the WNBA. Follow us on twitter @bigleaguephil and on instagram @bigleaguephilanthropist, and follow our parent company @tacklewhatsnext on any platform!

Links to Featured Articles:

Russell Westbrook Offers Update on His New Project Highlighting 1 of the Worst Racial Attacks in U.S. History

Russell Westbrook partners with nonprofit to launch L.A. schools for underserved students

Axios Sports Newsletter: Russian politics hit the NHL

Zlatan Ibrahimovic criticizes LeBron James for activist role: 'Do the category that you do'

Qatar World Cup of Shame

WNBA Approves Sale of Atlanta Dream to Larry Gottesdiener

In this episode of Big League Philanthropist, Danielle chats with Hugh Roberts, a USL Championship soccer player for Charlotte Independence and activist. Hugh discusses his podcast and philanthropic project BackYardFooty, where he talks about his experience as an athlete in all aspects of life, and his passion for bringing soccer to others.

Danielle and Hugh also discuss the Black Lives Matter Movement, and take a deeper dive into how important and life-altering the events of this past year have been on his life and career.

You can follow Hugh on Twitter @hughrob13 and Instagram @superhughman, and visit https://www.backyardfooty.org/ to learn more.

In this week's roundup of articles from the world of athlete activism and sports philanthropy, Danielle highlights athlete activists who paved the way for today's modern activist, how athlete activism is driving media value, a new Coursera course taught by NBA All-Star Chris Webber and a feature on Hugh Roberts and his BackYard Footy movement. Plus, we highlight a great event from Pittsburgh Steeler's Zach Banner on Athletes Against Antisemitism. Follow us on twitter @bigleaguephil and on instagram @bigleaguephilanthropist, and follow our parent company @tacklewhatsnext on any platform!

Links to Featured Articles:

Craig Hodges and Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf were Kaepernick before Kaepernick

Study: Athlete advocacy posts could drive US$1.2bn in media value by 2023

Coursera launches 'activism in sports' class taught by Chris Webber

‘Let me explain something: Ahmaud Arbery could have been ... ME.’

Athletes Against Antisemitism

In this week's roundup of articles from the world of athlete activism and sports philanthropy, Danielle highlights the progress of the Change the Mascot Movement, the NHL's new partnership to educate young people on social justice, JJ Watt's impact on the city of Houston, and the IOC's potential policy change on athlete activism. We also shout out a friend of the podcast, Renee Montgomery, on her big announcement. Follow us on twitter @bigleaguephil and on instagram @bigleaguephilanthropist, and follow our parent company @tacklewhatsnext on any platform!

Links to Featured Articles:

How Ray Halbritter’s rise helped the fight against Native American mascots in sports

NHL Launches New Social Justice Education Program

JJ Watt says his charity was flooded with $99 donations after his release from the Texans

Olympic panel to review athlete activism rules ahead of controversial Beijing games

Ep 11 - Dear Basketball IRL

In this week's Super Bowl edition roundup of articles from the world of athlete activism and sports philanthropy, Danielle highlights all things Super Bowl. From women making history on the sidelines to local Tampa organizations receiving funding from the NFL to brands donating their ad dollars to COVID-19 Vaccine awareness, to some great events recognizing Walter Payton Man of the Year Nominees, we've got you covered on all things sports philanthropy from the big weekend. Plus, we highlight some of the league's WPMOY nominees and their work. Follow us on twitter @bigleaguephil and on instagram @bigleaguephilanthropist, and follow our parent company @tacklewhatsnext on any platform!

Links to Featured Articles:

2021 Most Valuable Philanthropist: Super Bowl Edition

The State of the American Dream - The Bush Center

Women making history (and growing the game)

28 Tampa Bay nonprofits get $10,000 each from Super Bowl program

Skipping The Super Bowl, Budweiser Is Donating Its Ad Dollars To Covid-19 Vaccine Awareness Efforts

2020 Walter Payton Man of the Year Nominees

Russell Wilson named Walter Payton Man of the Year

In this week's roundup of articles from the world of athlete activism and sports philanthropy, Danielle highlights stories about Washington Football Team head coach Ron Rivera being cancer-free, New York Liberty's Layshia Clarendon's successful top surgery and advocacy for transgender people, how football player Kylin Hill fought for Mississippi's state flag to be changed, Naomi Osaka's investment into the NWSL, and an update from the sport for development sector on the impact of COVID-19. Follow us on twitter @bigleaguephil and on instagram @bigleaguephilanthropist, and follow our parent company @tacklewhatsnext on any platform!

Links to Featured Articles:

Ron Rivera of Washington Football Team cancer-free

'No one can erase us.' New York Liberty's Layshia Clarendon has successful top surgery

Kylin Hill fought to change the Mississippi flag. Next up: The NFL.

Tennis Superstar Naomi Osaka Announces Investment in NWSL Team North Carolina Courage

Study reveals COVID could be final whistle for fifth of sport for development sector

In this week's roundup of articles from the world of athlete activism and sports philanthropy, Danielle highlights stories on Jennifer King breaking barriers in the NFL, the role MLB legend Hank Aaron played in the Civil Rights Movement, how climate change forced a netball player to retire, an update on the status of transgender athletes' right to play under the Biden administration, and a great read on athlete activism from McGill University's The Bear and The Bull. Follow us on twitter @bigleaguephil and on instagram @bigleaguephilanthropist, and follow our parent company @tacklewhatsnext on any platform!

Links to Featured Articles:

Transgender Youth Bills Reflect Deep Divisions Across U.S. States

Hank Aaron's legacy beyond baseball: The role he played in civil rights

Source: Washington's Jennifer King to make history again as first Black woman to be full-time NFL coach

‘Climate change forced me to retire from sport’

How Athlete is Starting to Sound Like Activist

In this week's roundup of articles from the world of athlete activism and sports philanthropy, Danielle highlights stories from Martin Luther King III, the WNBA's blueprint to activism, Bills Mafia supporting Lamar Jackson, transgender athletes hoping for Biden administration support of their right to play, and five sport and human rights issues to look out for in 2021 from the Centre of Sports and Human Rights. Follow us on twitter @bigleaguephil and on instagram @bigleaguephilanthropist, and follow our parent company @tacklewhatsnext on any platform! 

Links to Featured Articles: 

Martin Luther King III: A New Era of Athlete Activism Can Help Fulfill My Father’s Dream (Guest Column) - Variety

How The WNBA And The Atlanta Dream Gave Sports A Blueprint For Meaningful Activism - UPROXX

Buffalo Bills fans donate to Lamar Jackson-backed charity after victory over Baltimore Ravens - ESPN

Transgender athletes look hopefully to White House transition - PBS

5 Sport and Human Rights Issues to Look Out For in 2021 - Centre for Sports and Human Rights

In this episode of Big League Philanthropist, Danielle sits down with Jasmine Thomas, a WNBA player for the Connecticut Sun and activist. Jasmine talks to us about her philanthropy with the Kay Yow Cancer Fund and her support of the WNBA’s Breast Health Awareness (BHA) initiative. 

Jasmine and Danielle also discuss her experience playing in the WNBA this season, how important it was for her and her fellow players to make sure this season was all about activism, and more! You can follow Jasmine on Twitter and Instagram. 

Today’s episode features our friend and Executive Director of Every Kid Sports, Natalie Hummel! Natalie is one of the co-founders or Every Kid Sports and a former athlete herself. She played volleyball at Colorado State University and now helps young people around the country access sports programming.

Every Kid Sports helps families afford to keep their kids in sports and provides financial assistance with registration fees for those who need it. There are a lot of misconceptions and misrepresentations about the state of youth sports in this country. It’s a pay to play model and that knocks out a lot of families who just can’t afford the fees to get their kids out there on the field or on the court. 

Natalie and Danielle talk about some of these misconceptions and what EKS does to help bridge the gap. They talk about how they work with high level athletes to promote their mission and Natalie gives advice to athletes who want to use their platform to make a difference in the community. If you would like to learn more about Every Kid Sports, check out their website here!