Announcing The Inaugural Beyond Sport Collective Impact Award Winners
August 23, 2019
Beyond Sport is thrilled to announce the inaugural winners of the Collective Impact Awards, a brand new initiative designed to drive collaboration between organizations using sport to achieve the UN Global Goals.
Together with The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation and the Swedish Postcode Foundation, we are focusing on how sport can specifically drive impact on two Global Goals: Reduced Inequalities (10) and Climate Action (13).
This cutting-edge program will increase support and investment to a group of organizations who will work together to share best practice, work through issues in real time and drive real, sustainable impact through sport. Thanks to the generous support of our two partners, the Beyond Sport Foundation will be making its largest single-year financial contribution, with grant money exceeding $560,000 for the two programs.
Additionally, all Collective Impact Award Winners will benefit from year-round expertise and collaboration with other groups as part of the Global Goals Task Force: a group of like-minded organizations all working to use sport to address their specific Global Goal. As a member of the task force, winners will receive a comprehensive business support package to help further develop their fundraising, monitoring and evaluation and legal expertise via Beyond Sport’s partners at TrustLaw, Upshot and GivenGain.
Selected through a rigorous entry process following the annual Beyond Sport Global Awards, these 11 winners - ranging in focus from geography, sport, methodology and size - will work together throughout the year to find innovative ways they can collectively have a larger impact on the UN SDGs they are working to address.
“We have been working hard to develop ways the Beyond Sport Global Awards can further support the sport and social change movement through innovation and collaboration,” said Alexandra Chalat, Managing Director, Beyond Sport. “This Collective Impact initiative is a result of our efforts to provide the best ways hard-working organizations in our sector can grow and make strides toward using sport to achieve the Global Goals. We are thrilled that the DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation and the Swedish Postcode Foundation share that vision for what we believe to be a truly cutting-edge initiative.”
The Award winners will be celebrated at the 2019 Beyond Sport Global Awards, an annual recognition of sport’s role in driving positive change around the world hosted by SAP on September 12 at its SAP Next-Gen Lab in New York.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS
The Sport for Reduced Inequalities Collective Impact Award supported by The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation will drive collaboration between multiple US-based non-profits using sport to promote equality across the US, exponentially increasing their ability to drive social change, ensure equal opportunities and help end discrimination in their communities through sports – a commonality that all can relate to and come together despite gender or economic differences.
“DICK’S is proud to partner with the Beyond Sport Foundation to provide funding that will directly combat inequality in sports in communities around the U.S,” said Aimee Watters, Director of Sports Matter and Executive Director of The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation. “Congratulations to all of the award recipients for the great work they are doing to use sport as a vehicle for change.”
These five Award winners are actively removing barriers to sport in their communities, with initiatives focusing on how disability, refugee status or crime all have impacts on sports participation and opportunities for success:
Soccer Without Borders - Cambridge, MA
Soccer Without Borders is the leading direct-service organization in the United States, serving immigrant and refugee populations through year-round, trauma-informed youth development programs.
MVP Youth Baseball and Softball Program from Lost Boyz Inc. - Chicago, IL
Lost Boyz Inc. aims to decrease violence, improve social and emotional conditions and provide financial opportunities in Chicago's South Shore Community. It does this by leveraging the benefits of team sports as a foundation to provide additional services and opportunities for at-risk youth.
The Sparkle Effect - National
The Sparkle Effect is working to improve school culture by empowering teens nationwide to include students with and without disabilities together in school-based cheerleading and dance programs.
Urban Dove - New York, NY
For 20 years, Urban Dove has provided at-risk youth in New York City with unique and engaging sports-based after-school programs designed to help teenagers graduate high school, enroll in college and ultimately graduate college with the skills needed to become independent and successful adults.
The Pass from Kids in the Game - National
Since 2010, The PASS has been a community outlet for low-income families, providing financial assistance to help families register for after-school sports, participate in school sports and increase opportunities to be active.
The Sport for Climate Action Collective Impact Award supported by the Swedish Postcode Foundation will capitalize on the unifying and energizing nature of sport to help combat the apathy and lack of cooperation hindering significant action on climate issues.
“Our commitment to SDG 13 is based in the belief that urgent action is required now and that we all need to work together to achieve a change,” said Marie Dahllöf, Secretary General of the Swedish Postcode Foundation. “Sport can be a fantastic vehicle for change, so we see an opportunity to accelerate change through this initiative.”
The six Award winners represent a diverse cross-section of the sport world. Fittingly, this truly global problem is being tackled by a global coalition, with organizations operating in countries such as Rwanda, the United States and Vietnam.
MANTA Sail Training Centre - Vietnam
MANTA equips Vietnamese fishermen with the skills to become independent from fossil-fuels through water-sports. In-turn, water-sports trained fishermen teach large groups of students climate change and water-sports survival-skills.
Protect Our Winters (POW) - United States
POW works against climate change by turning passionate outdoor people into powerful climate advocates. They lead a community of athletes, creative pioneers and forward-thinking business leaders to affect systemic policy solutions to climate change.
World Sailing - United Kingdom, Global
World Sailing uses sport as a catalyst for promote low carbon lifestyles by engaging with fans of sailing and participants. As a governing body, they both set green policy for large-scale events and run programs for grassroots club to self assess their environmental performance.
AEG 1EARTH - United States
AEG 1EARTH engages, educates and inspires AEG employees, athletes, fans and the general public about environmental sustainability, through sporting programs such as Kings Green, the LA Galaxy's Protect the Pitch and MBA Green.
Youth Service Organization (YSO) - Rwanda
YSO works with adolescents and youth gymnasts to raise awareness about climate change, environmental protection, the use of improved cooking stoves and planting trees for reforestation in rural areas of Gisagara and Nyaruguru districts of Rwanda.
I AM WATER - South Africa
I AM WATER Trust believes in marine conservation through transformational ocean experiences, and the ethos that you protect what you love. They do this by taking learners on two-day ocean snorkeling workshops to spark a connection and love for the sea, inspiring participants to want to take care of their oceans.
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to meet this incredible group of organizations at Beyond Sport House, September 11-13! Representatives from all 11 Collective Impact Award Winners will be in attendance, sharing insights on how to make a lasting impact on the Global Goals through sport. Register today: http://bit.ly/beyondsporthouse