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The NFL’s Inspire Change showcases how the players, owners and the league work together to create positive change in communities across America.
Working with the Players Coalition, NFL teams and the league continue to support programs and initiatives that reduce barriers to opportunity. Inspire Change focuses on three priority areas:
Education and economic advancement
Police and community relations
Criminal justice reform
Inspire Change includes:
Community activation. During Super Bowl week in Atlanta, the league will participate in several social justice events, including events with RISE (Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality) and Morehouse College. The league supports the Martin Luther King, Jr. Global Youth Leadership Conference, which takes place in Washington, D.C. in January in partnership with The Memorial Foundation, the builders of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial on the National Mall. The event helps youth leaders from around the country to develop their own voices and learn from Dr. King’s legacy of leadership.
Brandon Marshall returns to Las Vegas to inspire hope.
Grassroots funding.The Players Coalition will announce the recipients of their social justice grants during Super Bowl week.The NFL Foundationcontinues funding social justice matching grants submitted by current players, Legends and teams. To date, the Foundation has matched 365 social justice grants from players and 28 grants submitted by teams, totaling nearly $2 million.
Sharing stories of change.NFL Media will air programming focused on the efforts of current players and Legends toward social progress and understanding. The documentary seriesIndivisiblefeatures real conversations with players and local leaders on the issues and values at the heart of six communities. The seriesImpact & Influencecontinues onNFL Total Accessand follows the creation of the Bears’ nine-person social justice committee and their efforts to donate more than $800,000 to social justice efforts in Chicago.
BBBSA will use the funding to support agencies across the country as they create long-term mentoring relationships that empower youth to reach their full potential and help communities connect across racial and economic divides.
Chris Long focuses on education equality and opportunity.
“Our vision is to create a stronger, more inclusive economy—and by extension, society through financial empowerment – and financial dignity. Think of the difference our programs make in people’s lives as they improve their FICO scores by 100 points or more. Think about the impact on families and communities as more people and more local businesses succeed,” said John Hope Bryant, Operation HOPE Founder, Chairman, and CEO.
Operation HOPE will use the funds in support of their nationwide work within underserved communities to equip young people and adults with the financial tools and education to secure a better future.
“Mentoring is a proven long-term strategy for bridging gaps in academics and income, and this grant will allow our agencies to create more strong mentoring relationships,” said Pam Iorio, President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.
RISE Super Bowl Civil Rights Tour
These grants are in the spirit of two grants issued last season toDream Corpsand the UNCF (United Negro College Fund). With this support, Dream Corps'#cut50initiative helped to pass the bipartisan First Step Act. UNCF is using this support to develop and launch a criminal and social justice initiative that aims to alleviate the impact of mass incarceration on individuals and communities through the prism of higher education.
The NFL will also partner with digital learning curriculum leaderEverFion a high school-focusedAfrican-American History program. The funding will let thousands of students in 175 underserved schools in Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Montana and North Carolina to take part in the digital curriculum, at no charge to the schools or students.
