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Sports Philanthropy Newsstand 8-4-2025

The Green Bay Packers will be hosting three job fairs in August to hire seasonal and gameday staff ahead of the upcoming football season, with positions available in guest services and stadium security. On-site interviews will be conducted at each event, slated for Monday, August 4, Monday, August 18, and Tuesday, August 26, all held from 4–6 p.m. at the Johnsonville Tailgate Village on the east side of Lambeau Field. Attendees can park in Lot 3 off Lombardi Avenue, adjacent to Oneida Street. Applicants must be at least 16 years old and possess strong communication and troubleshooting skills. Gameday staff must also be available for all home games, potential playoff games, and other Lambeau Field events.

Playfly Sports has expanded its existing role with Major League Baseball by becoming the exclusive third‑party local media sales partner for the Minnesota Twins, Cleveland Guardians, and Colorado Rockies, while also continuing to handle national media sales for those clubs as well as the Padres and Diamondbacks Playfly SportsVISTA.Today. The move deepens MLB’s trust in Playfly’s market expertise and supports its “Home Team Sports” model, offering brands seamless regional and national advertising access across linear and digital platforms

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Sports Philanthropy Newsstand 7-28-2025

Replay Sports Cards is donating 1 million trading cards to over 40,000 children and teens across the Chicago area as part of its “Replay Gives Back” campaign. Launched in November 2024, the initiative coincides with the 2025 National Sports Card Convention and aims to make sports card collecting more accessible to underserved youth. The donated cards—gathered from brands like Topps, Upper Deck, and Pokémon—are sorted into 25-card packs, each with a few high-value “chase” cards, to give kids the thrill of opening a real collectible pack. Distributed through local organizations like the Boys & Girls Club of Chicago and Noah’s Arc Foundation, the campaign reflects Replay’s goal of spreading joy and inclusion in a hobby often seen as financially out of reach for many.

The Los Angeles Chargers hosted a “Women in Sports Day” panel at their training camp in El Segundo on Friday, July 25, 2025, featuring a pre-practice conversation moderated by ESPN analyst Mina Kimes alongside prominent figures such as Olympic volleyball medalist and coach April Ross, Excel Sports’ Ashley Kirby, Togethxr co-founder Jessica Robertson, and sports exec Molly Carter. The event celebrated women’s sports and community empowerment, featured giveaways from partners like UCLA, the L.A. Sparks, Angel City FC, and Togethxr, and showcased role models from diverse fields to inspire girls and women in attendees—including youth flag football players and coaches—by spotlighting career paths, mentorship, and the rapid growth in women’s sports opportunities.

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Sports Philanthropy Newsstand 7-21-2025

Penn State University has set new fundraising records in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, collecting an unprecedented $369.5 million in outright donations from over 235,000 donors. Highlights include a record-breaking $17.7 million raised by the student-led THON, and a University-best $1.7 million contributed by nearly 9,700 donors on GivingTuesday. Corporate and foundation gifts totaled $125.8 million, while Penn State Athletics and the Nittany Lion Club brought in a record $164.9 million, largely supporting the Beaver Stadium renovation and student-athlete programs. The year also saw 19 major gifts of $5 million or more, including an anonymous $8.5 million bequest to the College of Engineering. Building on this momentum, Penn State is preparing to launch its next major philanthropic campaign in 2026 publicly, focused on expanding access to education, research, outreach, and fulfilling its land-grant mission.

Perfect Game has launched the Believe in Baseball Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit aimed at expanding access to youth travel baseball for underprivileged children. Led by Commissioner Dennis Gilbert, a longtime figure in baseball philanthropy, the foundation seeks to remove financial barriers by offering aid, equipment grants, and partnerships with local teams. Backed by tax-deductible donations, it addresses the high costs of youth baseball—averaging over $1,100 annually—making the sport more inclusive. The foundation’s official launch event is set for January 31, 2026, at the Laugh Factory in Los Angeles, hosted by actor and board member Ian Ziering. By leveraging Perfect Game’s influence in youth baseball development, the initiative aims to create lasting community impact and greater equity in the sport.

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Sports Philanthropy Newsstand 7-14-2025

Connor McDavid joined teammates in supporting Zach Hyman’s annual charity golf event, which has now raised $3 million to benefit underprivileged children. Despite trade rumours swirling around both players, McDavid’s presence added significant attention and star power to the cause. Hyman, currently sidelined with a wrist injury, continued to spearhead the initiative, and McDavid emphasized his enthusiasm for supporting his friend’s impactful philanthropic work.

Nigeria captain William Troost‑Ekong underscored that his charity mission far surpasses his football career. Speaking at the 2025 Troost‑Ekong Foundation charity match in Lagos, he reflected on the event’s success and strong turnout. He emphasized that while football draws the crowd, the heart of the initiative is philanthropy—supporting education, sports, healthcare, and community development, particularly in his home state of Akwa Ibom. Troost‑Ekong stressed that the foundation is built to outlast his tenure on the national team, with a sustainable model led by a trusted team to drive long-term impact. The charity match—featuring top footballers and celebrities—raised over N40 million, underscoring that “charity is bigger than football.”

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Sports Philanthropy Newsstand 7-7-2025

The Graham Family donated a multi-million-dollar gift to the University of Michigan to support the Athletics Career Center, which has since been renamed the Graham Family Athletic Career Center. The donation will fund career development, life skills, and post-graduation support for student-athletes, ensuring they’re prepared for life after sports. Most of the gift will create a long-term endowment, while a portion will be used immediately to launch or expand programs.

Sports Events Up for Bid highlights several upcoming sporting events currently seeking host cities, offering opportunities for destinations to boost tourism and community engagement. Events include the Hoop It Up 3×3 Basketball Tournament, National Collegiate Wrestling Championships, World Gay Boxing Championships, USA Boxing national events, and the USA Taekwondo Finals. Each event varies in size and scope but typically brings in hundreds to thousands of athletes, coaches, and spectators, generating significant local economic impact. With bid deadlines ranging from late 2025 into 2026, the article serves as a guide for cities interested in attracting diverse and high-profile sports competitions.

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Sports Philanthropy Newsstand 6-30-2025

Partnering with FIFA, Global Citizen unveiled the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, a bold initiative aiming to raise $100 million to support education and life-skills programming worldwide. Funds will come from ticket sales during the upcoming Club World Cup, as well as proceeds from The Weeknd’s stadium tour and related e-commerce campaigns. Launched amid widening global aid gaps, this effort harnesses the power of soccer and celebrity influence to maintain momentum for humanitarian initiatives.

Travis Kelce announced that his offseason training camp, Tight End University—now entering its sixth year in Nashville—is preparing to expand internationally, with all profits continuing to fund charitable causes. Leveraging growing partnerships and sponsorships, the program aims to elevate the tight end position in football while giving back, highlighting Kelce’s commitment to combining athletic development with meaningful philanthropy.

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Sports Philanthropy Newsstand 6-23-2025

ICC Chairman Jay Shah, alongside the BCCI, celebrated International Olympic Day by spotlighting cricket’s return to the Olympics and championing the “Let’s Move?” campaign—an initiative urging global communities to embrace physical activity for better health. Shah emphasized that the dual focus on sport and movement highlights the synergy between athleticism and well-being, inviting individuals everywhere to get active and unite for a healthier future

Bob Woodruff Foundation held its Celebrity Veterans Golf Classic at Tennessee’s President’s Reserve on the Hermitage Golf Course. This star-studded charity scramble drew celebrities and veterans alike, offering a day of golf, brunch, cocktails, and camaraderie. The event raised vital funds to support veterans and military families, with proceeds directed toward mental health services, housing assistance, employment programs, and food security initiatives. 

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Sports Philanthropy Newsstand 6-16-2025

On June 12, the Nashville Predators Foundation announced its largest single-time philanthropic gift, distributing $825,995 in grants to 183 nonprofit organizations across Nashville and Middle Tennessee. This initiative, aimed at bolstering youth and family programs in the region, marks a significant expansion of the foundation’s ongoing commitment to community wellbeing. Since its inception, the foundation has awarded over $10 million in grants, and this latest round solidifies its role as a major contributor to local social impact

The annual Soccer Aid charity match took place at Old Trafford on June 15, featuring a celebrity-packed lineup including Tyson Fury, Usain Bolt, and Tom Hiddleston. Co-managed by Wayne Rooney and Peter Schmeichel, the event united entertainers and athletes in a competitive but friendly match between England and the World XI. Proceeds supported UNICEF’s global child protection and health initiatives, with the event surpassing previous fundraising records and highlighting the role of sport in humanitarian outreach.

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Sports Philanthropy Newsstand 6-9-2025

NBA All‑Star Jayson Tatum mobilized the Jayson Tatum Foundation to support residents affected by mid‑May tornado damage in St. Louis, organizing a food drive on June 1 that collected over 52,000 pounds of supplies, with a second drive held on June 14 at his high school alma mater to continue delivering aid and hope to the community.

NFL quarterback Russell Wilson, now with the New York Giants, through his Why Not You Foundation in partnership with the Colossal Foundation, announced this week the “Youth Athlete of the Year” competition—featuring a $25,000 cash prize and a Sports Illustrated feature—designed to recognize and empower young athletes across America. 

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Press Releases

Sports Philanthropy Network Announces Keynote Speakers for the 2025 Sports Philanthropy World Conference  

Sports Philanthropy Network (SPN) is excited to announce speakers for its signature Sports Philanthropy World Conference (SPW), June 25-27, 2025.  SPW2025 will again be hosted by KPMG in their Chicago office overlooking Millenium Park and Lake Michigan.  SPW2025 brings together diverse leaders in the sports philanthropy sector including athletes, foundations, community sports nonprofits, teams, leagues, governing bodies, associations, universities, sports business executives, media, educators, philanthropy consultants, family offices, ventures philanthropy funds and an array of leaders and organizations in and around the sports philanthropy sector. 

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Sports Philanthropy Newsstand 6-2-2025

The Caitlin Clark Foundation, in partnership with Hy-Vee, presented a donation of $300,802 to Feeding America at the Food Bank of Iowa. This contribution resulted from a month-long “Round Up” campaign during March, where Hy-Vee customers across the Midwest could round up their purchases to the nearest dollar, with the additional funds supporting local Feeding America partner food banks. The donation is estimated to provide approximately 3 million meals to food-insecure communities throughout the Midwest, underscoring the foundation’s commitment to addressing childhood nutrition.

The Nashville Predators Foundation announced its largest-ever one-time donation, distributing $825,995 in grants to 183 nonprofits across Nashville and Middle Tennessee. The funds aim to support youth and family-focused programs, reinforcing the team’s commitment to community engagement. Since its inception, the Foundation has awarded over $10 million in financial grants to local charitable organizations.

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Sports Philanthropy Newsstand 5-26-2025

Former NBA champion Scot Pollard, who underwent a heart transplant in 2024, honored his donor by sharing a float with the donor’s family as Grand Marshal of the Indy 500 Festival Parade. Pollard’s emotional connection with the family has fueled his advocacy for organ donation, using his platform to raise awareness and promote life-saving conversations.

The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee received a historic $100 million donation from philanthropist Ross Stevens.This unprecedented gift will provide $100,000 payments and matching life insurance benefits to athletes for each Olympic or Paralympic Games they participate in, starting in 2026, aiming to offer financial stability and support for their post-competition careers.

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Sports Philanthropy Newsstand 5-19-2025

NFL quarterback Patrick Mahomes and his wife, Brittany, hosted the Mahomies Foundation Vegas Gold Classic charity event in Las Vegas. The couple appeared in matching navy blue outfits, drawing attention on the red carpet. The event brought together football and fashion luminaries, including fellow NFL star Travis Kelce, to support a meaningful cause.The Mahomes couple not only contributed to the cause but also significantly enhanced the event’s star appeal.

The Minnesota Lynx announced a groundbreaking multi-year partnership with Grammy award-winning band Bon Iver to address gender inequity, domestic violence, and sexual abuse. This initiative makes the Lynx the first professional women’s sports team to collaborate directly with a musical artist for community impact. The collaboration includes planned seasonal activations like community outreach, basketball clinics, and the annual Lynx Changemakers Summit.Bon Iver will also donate $250,000 in grants to 13 nonprofits and shelters across Minnesota and western Wisconsin aiding survivors.

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Sports Philanthropy Newsstand 5-12-2025

On May 6, 2025, the Caitlin Clark Foundation, in partnership with Hy-Vee, announced a donation exceeding $300,000 to Feeding America. This contribution aims to support food banks across Iowa and the Midwest, addressing childhood hunger in the region. The initiative underscores Caitlin Clark’s commitment to giving back to her community and highlights the role of athletes in driving social change.

On May 13, 2025, the NHL revealed the finalists for the 2025 Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award, recognizing individuals who have made significant contributions to their communities through hockey. This year’s nominees have developed impactful programs aimed at promoting cultural inclusivity and improving accessibility for individuals with disabilities. Public voting is open until May 25, allowing fans to participate in honoring those who use hockey as a tool for positive societal change.

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Sports Philanthropy Newsstand 5-5-2025

World No. 1 tennis player Jannik Sinner has established the Jannik Sinner Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering children and young athletes by providing access to education and sports programs. The foundation aims to break down social barriers and create opportunities for underprivileged youth worldwide through school initiatives and community projects.

Basketball star Caitlin Clark has partnered with Hy-Vee to re-release “Caitlin’s Crunch Time” cereal, with all proceeds supporting the Caitlin Clark Foundation. The foundation focuses on youth development, including a recent initiative that donated 22,000 books to schools, aiming to promote literacy and education among children.

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