With May literally around the corner, we decided to get a head start on Mental Health Awareness Month, bringing you a round-up of four outstanding sports & mental-health related initiatives to get your minds and conversations flowing.
Our Win of the Week is a bit more on the playful side, with the honor going to the Baker & Emily Mayfield Foundation’s inaugural “Giving Bowl” down in Tampa. Think March Madness style brackets, but with local athletes and their favorite foundations. Can you guess who won?
And while the NBA Playoffs continue to raise the bar for drama and last minute intrigue (the Milwaukee Bucks blew a 7-point lead in overtime in the same amount of time it will take you to read this introduction!), Charlotte Hornets’ LaMelo Ball stars in our Mic Drop with his Points for Pets season-long campaign.
We wrap up this week’s newsletter with Cody’s #1 passion: sneakers! (Keep an eye out for his wall of kicks.) Along with Amy, they explore the role of sneaker culture and fashion in philanthropy in our latest episode of Beyond The Scoreboard. They also touch on recent developments in softball and how teams and athletes can leverage their platforms for social good.
Of course, don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel, and follow us on LinkedIn and IG for more of the most powerful stories in sports philanthropy. Thanks for being a part of the WIN | WIN community!
Until next week,
The WIN | WIN Team
WIN OF THE WEEK
Photo source: Crisis Center of Tampa Bay
Brandon Lowe Wins $50K for Crisis Center of Tampa Bay in Inaugural “Giving Bowl”
Who says brackets are only for actual tournaments? Earlier this spring, the Baker and Emily Mayfield Foundation hosted a three-week, bracket-style fundraiser that pitted five Tampa Bay athletes and their chosen charities against each other, driving community donations and awareness. The winner? Ray’s Brandon Lowe and the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay. But of course…it was really a WIN | WIN for everyone (we couldn’t help ourselves).
NBA Star LaMelo Ball Partners with Humane Society to Deliver Nearly 300,000 Meals for Pets
“My dogs mean everything to me, and I want every pet to receive the care and love they deserve. Being part of More Than a Pet has been an amazing experience, and I’m thankful for everyone who helped make this possible.”
This Week’s Spotlight: Sports & Mental Health
Tomorrow marks the first day of May, which is also Mental Health Awareness Month. Thanks to trailblazers like Michael Phelps and Simone Biles, more athletes are speaking up about their own challenges than ever before. And, we’re also seeing more leagues, teams, and orgs stepping in to support the next generation.
Beyond the Scoreboard
We’re back with more from Cody and Amy, diving into the who, what, why, and “why not?” behind some of the past week’s stories. Check out Amy’s new studio digs, go deep into sneaker philanthropy with Cody, and join the conversation by sharing your own take in our comments on YouTube.
What Else We’re Following
Busy tomorrow night? We are. We’ll be catching an exclusive online (free!) screening of #SheBelongs’ documentary, From Grassroots to Global: The Future of Women’s Sport. Wanna join? RSVP here, tell them that Amy or Cody from WIN | WIN sent you, and we’ll see ya on the interwebs tomorrow night. Oh, and please bring enough snacks for everyone. 🍿
This Saturday, the CSEF x Dunk Low Pro drops on the Nike Sneakers App. The collab highlights the work of the College Skateboarding Educational Foundation - which offers scholarships to skateboarders to pursue higher education. And just in time for grad season…these come with a golden tassel. Celebrate graduation in style. 🎓
“Get off my lawn!” Now, what’s the opposite of that? Our Founder, Cody Damon, has been stirring it up on Linkedin lately around issues of inclusion and representation. So here’s a question for YOU: what pages are you following to get your sports news? And, when is it not appropriate to check someone for inaccuracy in the comment thread? Check out our latest scuff-up on Boardroom’s post about the discrepancy between Cooper Flagg and Paige Bueckers rookie contract. TLDR: he gets paid 177x more. 🫣
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