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July 1, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Roy Kessel rkessel@sportslooop.com 312-498-4653
SPORTS PHILANTHROPY NETWORK HOSTS TOWN HALL ON RACISM, TOLERANCE AND REFORM AND RELEASES REPORT ON ANTI-RACISM STATEMENTS FROM PROFESSIONAL SPORTS ORGANIZATIONS
The Sports Philanthropy Network is excited to host its Town Hall Meeting on Racism, Tolerance and Reform on July 1, 2020. This special event features 20 speakers from across the country from every discipline in sports.
“We are excited to host this special Town Hall on Racism, Tolerance and Reform,” said Roy Kessel, Founder of the Sports Philanthropy Network. “The institutional problems in our society will only be corrected by a concerted effort to make intentional and meaningful change. We have speakers from every aspect of the sports world: sports administration, sports law, sports media, professional sports, sports diplomacy, sports philanthropy, college sports, former professional athletes, sports education and other aspects of sports business.”
“This Town Hall is only the start,” said Kessel. “It is our responsibility to ensure that we move far beyond communication and create a mechanism that will consistently take action to move forward. Towards that end, we are creating a Sports Philanthropy Anti-Racism Task Force which will meet on a regular and ongoing basis to evaluate the issues and determine how we can best take action for meaningful change.”
“As part of that initiative, we have released a report today containing the anti-racism statements which were issued by each of the professional sports teams, leagues and selected other organizations. We believe that this report will form an important basis for evaluating and measuring the long-term responses from these organizations. This will enable us to spotlight the work of those organizations which have been most effective, as well as allowing us to work with the organizations which have not met the standards that they have set for themselves.”
This report on the statements on racism is available on the Sports Philanthropy Network website at: www.SportsPhilanthropyNetwork.org/racism-statements
“Sports have an incredible power to create social change. Having worked in the sports industry for over 20 years, I have seen the strong positive impact that sports makes in many of our communities,” said Kessel. “Sports philanthropy drives social change, impacts underserved communities, breaks down barriers and fights for social justice. We believe that by bringing together the leaders in the sports philanthropy industry, we will facilitate greater communication and collaboration among the leadership and staff of these amazing organizations. Together, we know we can continue to build stronger, healthier and more inclusive communities.”
“We hope that this Town Hall, our Anti-Racism Task Force and the Report on Racism Statements will encourage everyone to get involved in fighting racism,” said Roy Kessel. “We need the voices of each person and each organization. Collectively, we can make a difference.”
About the Sports Philanthropy Network: The Sports Philanthropy Network is a national organization focused on providing educational resources, tools and connections for sports organizations, athlete foundations and sports related non-profit organizations. Among these tools are media coverage, an event calendar highlighting upcoming sports philanthropy events, professional development training and resources, podcasts, webinars and a blog that covers sports philanthropy topics. The Sports Philanthropy Network operates through a fiscal sponsorship with Players Philanthropy Fund (Federal Tax ID: 27-66011178), a Maryland charitable trust with federal tax-exempt status as a public charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions to the Sports Philanthropy Network are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. For more information, visit: www.SportsPhilanthropyNetwork.org.
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