Educating athletes on their potential to make a positive impact on the world, connecting them with the causes they care about & inspiring others to do the same.
athletes educated about smart philanthropy through AFH Workshops
children positively impacted by AFH programming on a monthly basis
non-profits from all over the world impacted by AFH Athletes
AFH Athlete-led volunteer and advocacy activations in communities around the world
Each are committed to continuing the legacy of AFH’s Founding Athletes and inspiring the next generation of sports leaders through their commitment to making the world a better place. Learn more about each ALC member by clicking their photo below.
Stephen Curry’s on and off court legacy is underscored by transformation and innovation. His 14-year career in the NBA with the Golden State Warriors is marked by many firsts. He was the first person to be named Most Valuable Player by unanimous vote in NBA history, the first player to hit 100 3-pointers in the NBA Finals, one of a select few to win MVP awards two years in a row, remains the all-time leading scorer in Golden State Warriors history and holds the record for most 3-pointers made in NBA history. He holds nine NBA all-star selections and four NBA Championships. Curry is CEO of Thirty Ink, a purpose driven collective that houses all of Curry’s business enterprises, such as Unanimous Media, which features award-winning media projects; Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation with wife Ayesha; and UNDERRATED, an inspiring lifestyle brand committed to providing equity, access and opportunity to underrepresented communities. Furthermore, in 2020, he launched Curry Brand, powered by Under Armour, with a mission to open doors for underrepresented youth and increase access for sports across the country.
Katie Ledecky, a ten-time Olympic gold medalist in swimming, is recognized as one of the most dominant athletes of all time. Often called the ‘First Lady of Freestyle’, she has broken 16 World Records and 37 American Records in her career. Out of the pool, Ledecky is an advocate for education, gender equality, and the empowerment of young athletes. In 2022, she received Athletes for Hope’s Community Hero Award.
Nathan Chen, a three-time Olympic medalist and three-time World Figure Skating Champion, has captivated audiences with his unparalleled skills on the ice. As the first man in figure skating history to land five quadruple jumps in a single performance and the first Asian American man to win a gold medal in the sport, he has quickly become a role model and icon for future figure skaters. Chen is committed to using his platform to inspire the next generation through environmental advocacy, diversity and inclusion and public health awareness. In 2022, he published his first children’s book, Wei Skates On, to teach kids the importance of finding joy in whatever they choose to do. He is currently studying at Yale University.
Elena Delle Donne is a three-time high school state champion, a McDonald’s All-American, CAA Rookie of the Year and three-time CAA Player of the Year in her four years of basketball at the University of Delaware, a WNBA number two overall pick, WNBA Rookie of the Year, two-time WNBA MVP, WNBA Champion, the only WNBA player in the 50-40-90 club, member of the WNBA 25th Anniversary Team, the all-time best free throw shooter in WNBA history and an Olympic gold medalist for Team USA. Off the court, Delle Donne has consistently used her platform to be a role model for young girls. She works to raise awareness for Lyme Disease and partners with organizations such as the Special Olympics to help give differently-abled children equal access to sports. Learn more about her story here.
Since 2006, AFH has educated more than 12,000 professional, Olympic, Paralympic and collegiate athletes through our Causeway workshop series and helped athletes volunteer with hundreds of underserved schools and impactful community organizations.
While we still connect athletes to any cause they care about through their Causeway journey, over the years we learned that there were certain spaces that athletes wanted to create positive change in. Thus, our core programs were born.
CHAMPS connects professional, Olympic, Paralympic, and collegiate athletes to underserved classrooms to help students learn mental health and character-building skills while staying active.
The Whole Being Athlete program unites and empowers athletes of all levels and backgrounds to work together and reduce the stigma of mental health in and out of sports.
Hospital Heroes connects professional, Olympic, Paralympic, and collegiate athletes to children in hospitals around the United States and Canada.
AFH University helps college athletes explore themes such as leadership, life skill development, advocacy, their role in the community, and how to discover their philanthropic passions.
Educational sessions and service opportunities designed to empower high school athletes to have a deeper understanding of sports philanthropy.
Aug 2025
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Aug 15, 2025
Athletes for Hope is proud to celebrate ESPN’s Take Back Sports initiative, a national campaign designed to make youth sports more fun, inclusive, and accessible for every child. The initiative…
Jul 2025
28
Jul 28, 2025
Mena Mirhom, MD, FAPA Chief Wellbeing Officer, Athletes For Hope In recent years, the conversation around mental health in sports has shifted significantly. High-profile athletes such as Simone Biles, Naomi…
Jul 2025
09
Jul 09, 2025
She’s got hustle, heart—and new award to prove it. At just 16, Sydney Mednik has already proven that athletes can be powerful changemakers—on and off the field. A proud alumna of Athletes…
In a few small but tangible ways, Athletes for Hope appears to be changing the culture of sports philanthropy.
Bruce Schoenfeld
SportsBusiness Journal
Of all the meetings we’ve had in spring training, that was the best one in 30 years.
Ozzie Guillen
former Chicago White Sox Manager
Athletes for Hope has taught me that there are many ways in which I can use my platform as an athlete to positively impact my community.
Kennedy Jones
Howard University Women's Soccer
I am just so grateful for Athletes for Hope and all the opportunities that they have given me to make an impact, to empower my community, and to allow me to use my platform in order to find opportunities to give back and spend time with others in the community.
Beverly Yanez
Racing Louisville FC
I’ve been working with Athletes for Hope for [many years] now and I can’t say enough about how great they have been to me. They’ve put me in touch with several charities, and I always trust that they are looking out for me. I would recommend them to anybody.
Etan Thomas
Retired NBA Player
I once thought that the best way to give back was to write a check and because there isn’t a lot of money in women’s soccer I have never been able to do so but I have been wrong all along. Giving back is about the quality of the time you put in, not necessarily the quantity. I am so grateful I have been able to work with AFH…because of the opportunities they have set up for me I am becoming a better person and realizing that there is so much to life than just sport.
Erin McLeod
Canada Women’s National Soccer Team
AFH has helped me to connect with organizations in my local community. I work with them because I want to help inspire the next generation of athletes and kids.
Laurenne Ross
Professional Skiing
Athletes for Hope helps me to be the person I want to be in my community.
Chris Paul
Washington Commanders
Athletes for Hope has taught me that I can use my platform to make a difference in the world and I am so grateful I’ve had the opportunity to do so through my work with them.
Kendra Chambers
USA Track & Field
