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2023 Play for Good Honoree Spotlight

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2023 Play for Good Honoree Spotlight

Posted: Updated: by Hannah Bronkema

Ahead of AFH’s 2023 Play for Good Gala, we are proud to spotlight this year’s three honorees. In this edition, get to know football legend and AFH’s 2023 Community Hero Award recipient, Vernon Davis. We look forward to further honoring Vernon on Wednesday evening.

Football legend Vernon Davis is a D.C. native who continues to positively impact his hometown in many ways.

From Dunbar High School to the University of Maryland to a stint with the Washington Redskins (now Washington Commanders), Davis remains faithful to the region that made him. 

His work outside of the game, though, has him making a mark away from football. The Vernon Davis Foundation for the Arts promotes art education and appreciation among the youth. Some may wonder why a football player is dedicating time and resources to the arts.

Well, Davis approaches overall wellness with a multi-faceted lens, seeing how sports and the arts can come together to form better leaders of tomorrow. His acting career followed his football career, and he utilizes both in his work. 

As a San Francisco 49er, Davis achieved two Pro Bowl selections, and he also had a career total of 583 catches and 63 touchdowns in 14 seasons. 

A seasoned professional, Davis was always grateful to play a sport at the highest level possible. He came from little in terms of money while in D.C., so giving back stems from his journey as a kid. 

Reading is a foundational component of Vernon Davis’ philanthropic work. Aa. ahuge part of his charitable work, he encourages underprivileged children to reap the benefits of reading.

As a once underserved child, Davis pledges to serve others in any way he can. He is already changing lives, and it is only the beginning for a player who retired in 2020. 

From scholarships to other forms of donations, his foundation is a reflection of the man who created it. 

Creative arts became a passion of Davis’ early in his college career at Maryland, and he has cemented himself as a leader in these different paths. A Super Bowl champion and book lover, a first-round pick and an artist, Davis’ well-rounded lifestyle allows for him to reach happiness in more ways than one.

And he continues to share this love for others. 

Vernon Davis is more than an athlete, he’s an advocate who hopes children who are just like him can make it out of the DMV. 

One snap and one book at a time.

Congratulations to the Athletes for Hope 2023 Community Hero Honoree- Mia Hamm.

2023 Play for Good Honoree Spotlight

Posted: Updated: by Hannah Bronkema

Play for Good Honoree Spotlight: Mia Hamm

Ahead of AFH’s 2023 Play for Good Gala, we are proud to spotlight this year’s three honorees. In this edition, get to know the soccer icon, AFH Founding Athlete behind AFH’s inaugural Mia Hamm Founders Award. We look forward to further honoring Mia on Wednesday evening.

This soccer star’s accolades precede her in more ways than one, but humility is at the core of Mia Hamm’s disposition. 

Olympic gold medals, World Cup trophies, United States soccer records, and FIFA World Player of the Year awards are just a few of the ways Hamm cemented herself as one of the best to ever step on the pitch. 

But her contributions to the world off the pitch are what make her so special. 

Spectators today can attend a U.S. Women’s National team game and spot Mia Hamm jerseys throughout the crowd despite her international play retirement in 2004. As culturally significant as they come, she helped usher in a generation of female soccer players that have seen success in the past decade. 

As an Athletes for Hope Founding Athlete, Hamm’s impact stems beyond her playing days. She founded the Mia Hamm Foundation, a national organization dedicated to raising funds and awareness for families in need of a marrow or cord blood transplant and the development of opportunities for young women in sports.

As Hamm once said, “the vision of a champion is bent over, drenched in sweat, at the point of exhaustion, when nobody else is looking.” Her dedication to sport and charity are examples of Hamm’s pure motivation to positively impact whatever team she’s a part of. 

Her soccer all-star games have become national events with icons from throughout athletics participating in the matches. The Celebrity Soccer Challenge has saved numerous lives, and in honor of her brother, who passed away from complications surrounding a rare blood disorder, she is stamping a legacy that transcends soccer. 

As a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame, Hamm has 17 years of professional excellence that back her being one of the best female athletes of all time. Yet she is not worried about the records and awards. 

She cares about what is next- helping save lives in any way she can. 

For the next little girl who doesn’t think she is good enough to play a sport she loves, or for the next patient in need of a marrow transplant, Mia Hamm serves as an example of what is possible when athletes use their platform for good.

A celebrated soccer career has been followed by years of service to support those in need. An aura of confidence has always surrounded Hamm, and few were as confident in Athletes for Hope as the soccer star. 

Through her continued dedication she has become a staple in sports philanthropy, and the giving space in general.

Congratulations to Athletes for Hope 2023 inaugural Mia Hamm Founders Award Honoree, Mia Hamm. 

2023 Play for Good Honoree Spotlight

Posted: Updated: by Hannah Bronkema

Play for Good Honoree Spotlight: George Cohen

Ahead of AFH’s 2023 Play for Good Gala, we are proud to spotlight this year’s three honorees. In this edition, get to know AFH’s 2023 Lifetime Hero Award recipient, and sports industry icon, George Cohen. We look forward to further honoring George on Wednesday evening.

There are few people who own a place in the history of all five major men’s sports leagues in America, influencing the landscape of U.S. sports across the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL and MLS. 

George Cohen is one of those people. 

Athletes for Hope’s 2023 Lifetime Hero Award recipient is an AFH Founding Board Member and has been a leading sports lawyer for more than four decades. From Player’s Associations to musical and health organizations, Cohen has cemented himself as an important figure in the history of many institutions. 

Whether it is innovative solutions, progressive initiatives or simple trustworthiness, Cohen has spent the entirety of his career gaining the respect of his opposition. Cohen sat in courtrooms and board rooms across from some of the most prominent figures in the nation, and he has helped foster the creative spirit from athletes to musicians and beyond. 

His sense of curiosity has brought him to where he is today. Cohen is constantly looking to help others and make a difference, so when he was named to the U.S. Olympic Governance Committee, he immediately became involved in the organization’s actions along with AFH Board Chair Mark Levinstein. 

He attended the 2000 Olympics with his friend and U.S. Olympic Committee Secretary Frank Marshall, watching as many events as possible. He was all in on his position, and it is this sense of dedication that has allowed Cohen to become an influential figure behind the scenes. 

Not only has he had a large-scale impact, though, but he has touched many lives along the way. 

When former Lakers star Magic Johnson announced that he contracted HIV, Cohen immediately stepped into action, working alongside an epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins to create a program assisting NBA players and other athletes. 

This is one of the hundreds of examples that show how George Cohen worked behind the scenes to make the sporting world a better place. 

In contract bargaining agreements, he helped save MLB players from having to sit out, helped NHL players reach an agreement with the league in 2013, and worked alongside so many other associations to allow the games to be played. 

One of the most respected men in the sports advocacy space is a lifelong friend of many, providing wisdom and advice for whoever needs it. 

Congratulations to the Athletes for Hope 2023 Lifetime Hero Honoree, George Cohen. 

AFH News

Posted: Updated: by Hannah Bronkema

Athletes, Mental Health & How AFH is Addressing the Stigma

Reflecting on our work in advance of World Mental Health Day Tuesday, October 10, 2023.

One in five adults experience a mental health condition at some point in their lives. For athletes, the issue of mental health is even more prevalent with around 35% of elite athletes suffering from burnout, eating disorders, and/or anxiety and depression. On the collegiate side, data suggests out of the general student population experiencing mental health challenges, 30% of them seek help, whereas out of the student-athlete population, only 10% do.1  Furthermore, suicide is the third leading cause of death among athletes.2

Performance anxiety, relentless pressure, and the emotional turmoil that can follow a career-ending injury can significantly impact an athlete’s mental well-being. These facts underscore that mental health isn’t a trivial matter; rather, it stands as a crucial element affecting an athlete’s performance and overall wellness.

As we approach World Mental Health Day on October 10, Athletes for Hope (AFH) is underlining its dedication to emphasizing the importance of mental health in both athletics and society at large. Led by our Whole Being Athlete Program and our 22 Mental Health Ambassadors, our goal is to create and strengthen a network that inspires and activates a robust community to break down existing stigmas of mental health, in and out of sports. Since the inception of the program in 2021 and the addition of our Mental Health Champions Club in 2023, we have aimed to make a significant impact through various initiatives, always focused on changing the stigma around mental health by empowering athletes of all backgrounds to advocate for systemic change.


Education: We collaborate with organizations and experts in the field to provide athletes with training, resources and support. This ensures they have access to the tools necessary to address their mental health needs – and to support others – through our Mental Health Resource Hub.

Storytelling: We believe that sharing stories and opening up conversations about mental health is an enormous part of the work to break down the stigma. We feature athlete-written mental health stories and panel discussions, giving athletes a platform to share their stories, advocate for change, and find community with each other. 

Convening: AFH works to spread awareness in communities by hosting and supporting events nationwide, including the first Athlete Mental Health Advocacy Day at the U.S. Capitol this May and by holding monthly or quarterly committee meetings with our advocates, athletes, and key stakeholders.

Advocacy: Initiatives such as the Mental Health Champions Club and the Pledge to Reach Out are using the power of sports to bring wellness, kindness, and self-care tips to our community members. We work every single day to convene athletes and organizations that work every day to strengthen athlete mental health collectively.

AFH’s commitment to mental health in athletics is not just a matter of advocacy; it’s a matter of fundamental importance. As research shows, mental well-being significantly impacts athletics performance, and by extension, it touches the lives of millions who look up to these athletes. With an estimated 55% of kids in the U.S. participating in youth sports programs, there is a remarkable number of young people looking to elite athletes as role models in how they manage their careers, community, and mental health. It is critical that youth today have access to resources and support through their mental health journeys.

This World Mental Health Day, we invite you to join us in recognizing the profound significance of mental health in athletics and beyond. Together, we can create a world where mental health is prioritized, the stigma is eliminated, and support is readily available to all. Athletes for Hope stands strong in this mission, and we invite you to stand with us.

AFH News

Posted: Updated: by jbelinkie

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AFH to Bring Six Professional, Olympic, Paralympic and Collegiate Athletes to Tanzania for Youth Sports Empowerment Program

WASHINGTON D.C.- On Tuesday, October 18, 2022 a team of nine (9) American athletes and staff from Athletes for Hope (AFH) and World Learning will travel to Arusha, Tanzania as part of a seven (7) day project, “Building Life Skills in Youth Through Sports: Program for Tanzania” geared to empower girls and young women through basketball and sport. This two-way exchange project is a collaboration through the U.S. Department of State’s Sports Diplomacy division in conjunction with World Learning and Athletes for Hope. The initial inbound event included ten (10) Tanzanian young women who participated in cultural, educational and sport-related exchange opportunities while in the Washington, DC area in January 2020.

The seven-day outbound program will include cultural and educational visits, and life skill sessions using the AFH Fit and Whole Being Athlete mental health curriculum conducted by American participants to support sports-based youth development projects in Tanzania. Each activity on the schedule is focused on increased leadership skills, encouraging positive mental health, confidence, inclusion, cross-cultural understanding, female empowerment, and youth development at the Orkeeswa School, in Monduli, Tanzania.

“It’s a privilege to continue to expand the global impact of Athletes for Hope in collaboration with World Learning and the U.S. State Department,” said AFH CEO Jason Belinkie. “We are thrilled to bring core elements of AFH programming to students and educators at the Orkeeswa School through our staff leadership and AFH Athlete participants.”

Athlete participants include Michelle Carter (Olympian, USA Track & Field), Awvee Storey (Coach, WNBA/NBA G League and retired NBA), Chastity Melvin (retired WNBA), Zavier Moore (Southern University Baseball), Lacey Henderson (Paralympian, USA Track & Field), and Megan Montefusco (NWSL, Orlando Pride).

For media inquiries please contact: Kylie Reeves (kreeves@athletesforhope.org) 919-593-7975

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Athletes for Hope

Founded by Muhammad Ali, Andre Agassi, Mia Hamm and nine other elite athletes in 2006, Athletes for Hope (AFH) is a cause-neutral non-profit that educates, encourages, and empowers athletes to find their passions and use their time to positively engage with their communities. Over the past 16 years, AFH has educated more than 10,000 professional, Olympic, Paralympic and collegiate athletes through its Causeway workshop series, and helped athletes volunteer with hundreds of underserved schools and impactful community organizations through core programs that focus upon helping underserved children become more physically active, changing the public stigma around mental health, and brightening the lives of children in hospitals. Through their dedication and passion for doing good, AFH athletes have positively impacted the lives of millions around the world. To learn more, visit www.athletesforhope.org.

World Learning

World Learning is a global nonprofit empowering people and strengthening institutions through education, sustainable development, and exchange programs. World Learning helps people and communities build brighter futures through six core program areas: people-to-people exchanges, global education, institutional strengthening, youth workforce and entrepreneurship, civic engagement, and TESOL | English teacher training. 

World Learning’s professional exchanges, such as the U.S. Department of State-funded International Sports Programming Initiative include networking opportunities with U.S. and international counterparts, site visits, and industry and community discussions. Programs emphasize experiential learning and leadership development and are customized to the needs and contexts of participants. Through exchange programs, World Learning helps the next generation of global leaders expand their sense of civic responsibility, establish relationships across ethnic, religious, and national lines, and develop the skills and knowledge to transform their communities and countries.

To learn more, visit www.worldlearning.org.

U.S. Department of State, Sports Diplomacy Division 

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) fosters mutual understanding between the United States and other countries through international educational, professional and cultural exchanges. The Bureau promotes personal, professional, and institutional ties between private citizens and organizations in the United States and abroad, and presents U.S. history, society, art and culture in all of its diversity to overseas audiences. 

The Sports Diplomacy division (formerly SportsUnited) uses the international language of sports as a tool to promote tolerance, understanding and the peaceful resolution/prevention of conflict; to increase awareness among young people of the importance of following a healthy lifestyle and physical fitness in order to prevent illness, substance abuse, and negative behaviors; and to improve the quality of life for persons with disabilities by providing inclusive sports opportunities that contribute to the physical and psychological health of people at all ages who experience disabilities. To learn more about Sports Diplomacy, visit: https://eca.state.gov/programs-initiatives/initiatives/sports-diplomacy/sports-grants

AFH News

Posted: Updated: by kReeves

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Athletes for Hope and Southern University Team Up to Support Mental Health & Wellness

Update | August 29, 2022: You can find a recap of this event in BR Proud.

Baton Rouge, LA, August 16 – Athletes for Hope (AFH) is proud to support the Wellness Festival on the Bluff, presented by NAMI Louisiana, scheduled for Friday, August 19, 2022. The event will take place at the Southern University Event Center (8101 James J Prestage St, Baton Rouge, LA 70807) from 10am to 4pm in collaboration with Southern University Athletics, Student Government Association and the Department of Social Work.

As part of Southern University Athletics’ Fan Fest Weekend, the Wellness Festival will include presentations from mental health professionals and advocates. Highlights include a presentation from NAMI National CEO Daniel Gillison who will raise awareness about the mental health needs of college students and an AFH Whole Being Athlete panel moderated by Dr. Marlin Hollins, Southern University Assistant Athletic Director of Advancement, focusing on campus area mental health resources. Yoga, mindfulness moments and targeted vendors focusing on mental health community support will all round out this incredible day of learning.

“During a time where athlete mental health awareness and suicide prevention is needed more than ever, AFH sees a significant and important opportunity in Baton Rouge to support and strengthen the mental health and wellness resources surrounding Southern University,” said Suzanne Potts, LMSW, MPH, AFH University National Director and Mental Health Program Lead. “We are grateful for the campus community, Southern Athletic Department and NAMI Louisiana for their commitment to making this event a huge success and connecting Southern students with a day of reflection, resource sharing and fun.”

This event is funded in part by a grant from the Pennington Family Foundation which supports a larger initiative with Athletes for Hope University (AFH U), a program that educates and connects student-athletes from LSU and Southern University to service and volunteerism, as well as mental health and advocacy efforts via AFH’s Whole Being Athlete. AFH U launched in 2013 and now operates at 14 university campuses across the U.S., including 5 HBCUs while Whole Being Athlete launched in May of 2021.

For media inquiries, please contact: Kenya Warren-Hollins (kwarren@athletesforhope.org, 504-428-9737)

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About Athletes for Hope

Founded by Muhammad Ali, Andre Agassi, Mia Hamm and nine other elite athletes in 2006, Athletes for Hope (AFH) is a cause-neutral non-profit that educates, encourages, and empowers athletes to find their passions and use their time to positively engage with their communities. Over the past 15 years, AFH has educated more than 10,000 professional, Olympic, Paralympic and collegiate athletes through its Causeway workshop series, and its network includes thousands of athletes across nearly every sport. AFH’s core programs focus on underserved youth physical activity and leadership, mental health, and brightening the lives of children in hospitals. Through their dedication and passion for doing good, AFH Athletes have positively impacted the lives of millions around the world.