W|W WEDNESDAY NEWSLETTER: JULY 2, 2025
Maybe it’s because school’s out, or maybe it’s because there’s so much room for growth in the space — but either way, all of our Downloads from this past week were focused on initiatives helping kids. From a massive investment in youth golf to training coaches for the next generation, we’re celebrating the different ways sports can empower more youth across the world.
Speaking of more…sometimes going with less is actually the stronger play. That’s what we’re exploring this week by highlighting Coaches vs. Cancer, a program from the American Cancer Society (ACS) and National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), that offers so many ways to get involved, it runs the risk of diluting their impact. Of course, we have a few ideas for changing that.
Last but definitely not least, our Mic Drop goes to the one and only Jason Kelce. You might have seen his little strip tease on social media. Love it or hate it, behind that stunt is an effort that netted over $1M for the Eagles Autism Foundation. Gotta give him his flowers.
Have a great July 4th, everyone. And don’t forget to watch Joey Chestnut’s big hot dog eating return. Just don’t try to replicate it at home.
Until next week,
The WIN | WIN Team
ICYMI: THIS WEEK’S W|W DOWNLOADS
.
FUNDING AND LEGACY
Atlanta Falcons and PGA Tour Superstore owner Arthur Blank made a $10 million grant to First Tee, a nonprofit helping to reduce economic barriers to golf for youth nationwide. While Blank made the investment through his Foundation, it’s just the latest example of the mogul’s longstanding history of using sports for social good.
.
PARTNERSHIPS FOR GOOD
The Nike Swoosh Summer Academy (SSA), a unique coach training program for recreational leaders who run summer programs for kids, is celebrating 10 years of partnership with the Chicago Park District. The program has upskilled 14,000 recreation leaders and reached over 159,000 youth over the last decade, blending physical education with leadership skills and economic empowerment.
Read more →
.
ATHLETE-DRIVEN IMPACT
Sarah Thompson, a hockey player at St. Lawrence University, recently earned two prestigious awards for the global humanitarian impact made by her nonprofit, ‘Sticks Together.’ The org brings recycled hockey equipment and hands-on coaching to underserved communities worldwide, giving local youth an opportunity to develop self-confidence, connection, and wellbeing.
Image source: Philadelphia Eagles / Jamal Cooley
“The growth of this event over the past five years is a testament to the generosity of Eagles fans everywhere and their ongoing commitment to the global autism community."
-Jason and Kylie Kelce on raising over $1M for the Eagles Autism Foundation during this year’s Team 62 Fundraiser at the Ocean Drive
We spend a LOT of time researching and reading about initiatives at the intersection of sports and social impact… but Coaches vs. Cancer, a program from the American Cancer Society (ACS) and National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) hadn’t come across our radar until now.
Image source: cancer.org
Much like NMDP’s Get in the Game initiative, which partners with coaches to encourage student-athletes to become part of the national blood stem cell registry, Coaches vs. Cancer takes a similar approach to engaging basketball players at all levels in raising awareness of, and funding for, cancer research, treatments, and patient support.
Unlike Get in the Game, though, which has a very clear focus and pathway for engagement, Coaches vs. Cancer offers a 40-page playbook with dozens of different ways for coaches, players, and teams to get involved. We love the creativity and recognition that social impact isn’t one-size-fits all. But we also know that more isn’t always better. (Cheesecake Factory menus, anyone?)
So what if…
What if instead of providing a buffet of participation options that might feel overwhelming (and could even discourage folks from getting involved at all), ACS and NABC Leveled-Up their impact by narrowing-down their proposition?
One of the ideas in the Coaches vs. Cancer playbook that stands out the most is Sneakers and Suits Week, when coaches are asked to suit-up in their favorite formalwear and eye-catching kicks to raise awareness for cancer screening and care.
Right now, it’s a smart but somewhat scattered play, especially because ACS gives folks the option of doing it “whenever is right for your school!” But think about how much impact this single vehicle could have with a dedicated spotlight, focused timeframe, and the right amplification. Of course, we have thoughts…
Fashion and sneaker brands are all over the sports world, so bringing in a brand sponsor at either the ACS and NABC national level, or giving schools / teams the ability to leverage their own official gear partnerships, would add an entirely new level of PR and social media visibility. Plus, brand sponsors would be encouraged to not only rep through product, but also make a financial contribution to ACS.
The recommended Sneakers and Suits week is typically planned for late January or early February, which also happens to be pretty close to NYC Fashion Week. Why not work with runway designers on a special edition Sneakers and Suits show, and honor coaches who are dedicated to community impact by inviting them to model the fits for the world? With all of the cameras focused on Fashion Week, it’s a shoe-in (pun intended) for driving massive awareness beyond the usual sports realm.
NIL for Coaches. Hear us out. Yes, the big-dollar sponsorships are typically created by brands and bestowed upon athletes…but who says nonprofits and coaches can’t also get in on the action? While this idea’s not as explicitly tied to Sneakers and Suits as our others, it could be an incredible foundation for engaging coaches in the effort year-round, bringing in their teams’ brand partners as additional sponsors, and activating everyone involved during key moments to drive even more attention and support.
We think there’s a huge opportunity for ACS and NABC to create a few incredible entry points, rather than dozens of scattered ones, and rally their supporters together in a much more targeted way.
Focused ask, focused impact. That’s the WIN | WIN.
WHAT ELSE WE’RE FOLLOWING
🏉 Flag Football continues its march toward dominating our attention, and we don’t mind one bit. More kids playing is always a good thing. Wanna get in in on the action? The NFL is offering free tickets to the NFL Flag Championships.
💰 GSV Ventures is leading a Series A for Pro Athlete Community’s growth. The $7.6mm round is aimed at growing the educational and training resources available to professional athletes as they transition to genpop like the rest of us.
💱 Tariffs and Youth Sports. It’s no surprise that all our equipment is manufactured in China. But how it this impacting families?
BECOME A CONTRIBUTOR
If you’re passionate about making a difference, AND have a story to tell about the power of sports to create positive social change, we want to amplify your voice — and your impact — by sharing your story.
Got breaking news at the intersection of sports and social impact? Share it with WIN | WIN first for access to our dedicated audience of insiders.
