By Nicole Weissman

Earlier this month, the All Sports United Consortium gathered for the first time in Washington, D.C. The convening, held at George Washington University, included existing leaders wanting to share best practices, sports professionals looking to expand their knowledge of philanthropy, and young people hoping to pursue a career in this growing area.

Consortium members heard from Dr. Lisa Delpy Neirotti, Associate Professor and Director of George Washington School of Business Sports Management Programs, who described the university’s Graduate Certificate in Sports Philanthropy. The first-of-its-kind program, set to begin in May, draws on the experience of thought leaders and industry professionals to teach best practices and create a network for future leaders.

Following Dr. Delpy Neirotti’s presentation, the consortium enjoyed a talk from Jeff Bliss, President and CEO of The Javelin Group, a global marketing consultancy with particular capabilities working with sporting events and sports organizations on behalf of corporate clients. Drawing comparisons to trends in the broader corporate social responsibility field, Jeff found agreement from the group when discussing the shift away from donations and other traditional philanthropy and in the direction of creative sponsorships and other arrangements with strong shared value.

Consortium members divided into groups to discuss the ideas Jeff presented, and share their own challenges and experiences in sports philanthropy. When the larger group re-convened at the end of the final hour, each small group presented its findings, marking the first of what will be many discussions of best practices for the All Sports United Consortium.

Moving forward, the consortium will continue to act as a unit in identifying and advancing best practices, with both in-person and virtual meetings planned as follow-up to this month’s successful Washington convening.

Special to All Sports United
By Nicole Weissman

The largest gathering of Bostonians the day after a manhunt shut down the city Friday wasn’t at the site of last Monday’s bombings. It wasn’t at a religious service or a planned memorial. It was at Fenway Park, where the Red Sox took to their home field for the first time since Patriots’ Day.

In the days before their homecoming, Red Sox players tweeted their support for Bostonians, sweeping the Indians on the road with a jersey in the dugout reading “Boston Strong” and bearing the number “617,” the hometown area code. In Cleveland the team was met with support, and from afar the rival New York Yankees executed a touching tribute, borrowing a Red Sox tradition by playing “Sweet Caroline” after the third inning of their Tuesday game.

But the Red Sox were ready to come home, and all eyes were on the team’s own tribute to the events of the week, set to take place on Friday evening. The tribute was planned by Dr. Charles Steinberg, senior advisor to team president Larry Lucchino. Dr. Steinberg is experienced with pregame tributes, and no doubt wrestled with how best to navigate the unique tone and heightened emotion around this moment.

Rumor had it Dr. Steinberg was planning a bold move: the tribute would be understated and mostly unplanned, driven by fans and players. For an industry that embraces theatricality, the idea demonstrated admirable finesse, appropriate restraint and an intimate knowledge of Red Sox fans – they could be trusted to create a powerful moment of community support and healing, if that was what they collectively wanted.

Then the situation in Boston changed dramatically, literally overnight. Friday saw a city in lockdown, with empty streets, businesses and schools closed, and by 3pm, the cancellation of that night’s Red Sox game. The tone shifted from sadness, fear and anger to determination and resolve and, by late evening, guarded triumph. The bombing suspects dead and captured, Bostonians took to social media to declare that the time for fear was past, and the time for healing had come. And so the Red Sox tribute changed again.

Fans gathered in Fenway Park, and when the stadium could hold no more, they gathered around it to see and hear what they could, and maybe even just to be close. And the tribute did not disappoint. The crowd, dotted with “Boston Strong” flags, signs and t-shirts, watched a video tribute to marathon victims, survivors and first responders. Survivors and responders took to the field as the announcer declared, “We will run another marathon – one bigger and better than ever. We are one. We are Boston. We are strong. We are Boston strong.” Three ceremonial first pitches were thrown out by marathon survivors, the national anthem was sung in unison by the crowd and the players, and last but not least, David Ortiz took the microphone.

The game marked Big Papi’s return from a lengthy set of injuries, and fans held up signs welcoming back their star, who has called Boston home for over a decade. With genuine intensity, Ortiz explained that, though the team’s home jerseys normally read “Red Sox,” today they were emblazoned with “Boston,” in honor of their town.

Across Boston this week, though perhaps nowhere as strongly as with the Red Sox, sports figures have proven themselves to be community leaders and sources of strength, and teams have proven their ability to play a key role in community healing, whether through moving tributes or simply the promise of a return to normalcy. More importantly, these teams and their players willingly embrace this challenging role. As Red Sox pitcher Will Middlebrooks put it before taking the field Saturday afternoon, “We’re happy to get back out there and help the city heal.”

Special to All Sports United
By Nicole Weissman

Across the country this week, the familiar sights and sounds of baseball are returning. Manicured outfields, cracking bats and the voices of favorite commentators are as much a sign of spring to me as flowers and melting snow. But what lends baseball special potential in the area of sports philanthropy is that my sentiment is shared by such a vast number of Americans from all walks of life. The reach of baseball, its longevity and the ease with which it can be played position America’s pastime as one of the foremost sports for engaging youth and connecting communities.

Reach
In 2010, over 2.5 million youth participated in over 7,000 little leagues worldwide. Baseball and softball reach urban, suburban and rural communities alike, buoyed by the largest organized youth sports entity in the world: Little League Baseball. And ongoing efforts are continuing to push baseball to underserved communities, improving reach and expanding participation. Major League Baseball’s Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) program partners with foundations, nonprofits and corporations to bring baseball and softball to 200 cities worldwide – providing more than 200,000 boys and girls each year the opportunity to play.

Longevity
When my father was growing up in Queens, he and his friends used to grab their gloves, a bat, a ball and anything that could mark a base, and head into the yard between their apartment buildings. I was in Brooklyn just a few weeks ago and saw kids doing the same thing, 50 years later. When we talk about baseball – its reach, its impact – we cannot forget that this, for many, this is a love affair that starts young and never ends, passed down from one generation to the next through parents and mentors.

Access
The reach and longevity of baseball have been made possible, in large part, by the fact that this is a sport with few barriers to access and participation. Though it is true that fields vary in quality and that, like so many sports, it is always possible to invest in the latest and greatest equipment, the basics needed to play baseball are relatively simple. Programs like RBI are able to grow and thrive because, funding and partner support aside, they are straightforward, realistic and easy to implement.

For many visitors to All Sports United, none of this is news. But what bears reinforcing is the potential – the perfect storm that can come out of a strong combination of factors like reach, longevity and access.Almost a year ago I attended the Washington Nationals Memorial Day Baseball Tournament – a partnership with Kyle’s Kamp benefiting Children’s National Medical Center. As a long-time hockey fan, I looked around in awe at the number of participants: 4,000 local youth baseball players from 160 teams. And the result? $400,000 raised by the first night of the tournament. So what did baseball have that hockey, at least so far, didn’t have? Those three things: a massive network of youth players, a long and rich history across the nation, and a sport that is easily played almost anywhere by almost anyone, with limited barriers to participation.

As you take in your first games of the year, I encourage you to keep one eye out for fly balls, and keep the other peeled for the impressive sports philanthropy programs thriving and growing in this game. For a start, check out MLB and Little League community programs.

Voting is now open for All Sports United’s 2013 Humanitarian Award for Excellence in Sports Philanthropy.  You can help determine the top 10 by voting at the following link:

Vote Here!

Your vote will count for your favorite candidate so vote early and vote often!

To learn more about the award or to nominate an Athlete Philanthropist, click here.

February 19, 2013

The time is finally here:  All Sports United is accepting nominations for the “2013 Humanitarian Award for Excellence in Sports Philanthropy” from now until April 15, 2013.

What exactly is excellence in sports philanthropy?  That is entirely up to the voters! All Sports United encourages the recognition of excellence based on multiple interpretations.

Once all nominations are received, the All Sports United Advisory Committee will narrow the field to 10 finalists based on a combination of merit and fan voting. All finalists will submit video or personal statement and presented June 11 in Indianapolis, IN.  The winner will be voted on by peers and determined by votes received as well as advisory committee input.

The winner of this esteemed award will be announced on June 11^th  in front of invited media.  Not only will the winner receive much deserved media coverage at the event, but he/she will also receive:

• A feature story published on AllSportsUnited.org and other outlets
• A $100,000 media grant customized for the benefit of the winner’s cause of choice (Media grant provided by PVBLIC authorizes unprecedented access to public media channels)
• An amazing platform to share their message!

To submit nominations, please visit:

http://www.allsportsunited.org/nominate

Anyone can nominate an athlete or sports foundation so act quickly to be the first to nominate your favorite.  Public voting will be announced soon.

In the last decade, Boston Red Sox Chairman Tom Werner has not only helped put the team back on the map, but more importantly he’s helped cultivate relationships in the New England community with families in need of health, education, and social services. Thanks to his lavish contributions to the Boston area, Major League Baseball bestowed Werner with the “Dave Winfield Humanitarian” Award this past week — an honor presented to the most generous figure in baseball annually.

Werner and the Red Sox Foundation have graciously donated millions of dollars to reputable causes in the New England area in the past five years. The Red Sox Foundation has become the most philanthropic sports organization in the New England area, and for that matter one of the most charitable in all of sports.

One of the foundations crowning achievements, its partnership with the Jimmy V Foundation, has helped raise over ten million dollars toward cancer research in the last four years alone. In 2012, Werner’s foundation held its third-annual Pan Mass Challenge, a cross-state bicycle ride that annually raises lucrative funds for the Jimmy V Foundation and their research.

In addition to their unremitting commitment to finding a cure for cancer, Werner and the Red Sox Foundation are committed to mentoring at-risk teens, giving them the resources needed to succeed at the highest level.

Two of the foundation’s principal programs, appropriately titled the Red Sox Rookie League and RBI (Reviving Baseball in the Inner-Cites), help keep children and teens off the streets by finding a home on the diamond. These programs promote conflict resolution, as well as raise self-esteem in today’s youth.

Every year, the Red Sox Foundation awards hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships to at-risk and low-income students in the New England area, encouraging them to not only flourish in public schooling, but also pursue and complete a college degree.

The foundation does a lot of their work prior to Red Sox games at Fenway Park, inviting the cities’ youth to partake in a multitude of openhanded charitable efforts.

After Werner’s group purchased the Red Sox in 2001, he created the Red Sox Foundation shortly thereafter and has been a mainstay in the development of the region in a multitude of ways. It’s safe to say Werner’s contributions have helped develop the gleaming reputation the Red Sox portray in the Boston area for the last decade.

All Sports United congratulates Werner and the Boston Red Sox on their extraordinary accomplishments and work in the community.

Jason Witten is arguably the top tight end in the NFL — arguably. But according to the National Football League, you can’t argue whether or not he was the most accomplished philanthropist in the NFL in 2012. The league announced Friday Jason Witten had won his second consecutive Walter Peyton NFL Man of the Year Award.

In ten seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, Witten has caught more balls than any Cowboy in history. He’s been to seven Pro Bowls, and was named All-Pro twice. All things considered, his accomplishments off the field may have left a bigger impression in the state of Texas than any touchdown he’s hauled in.

Through the Jason Witten SCORE Foundation, Witten has funded a bevy of outreach programs and sponsored a plethora of building projects to improve Texas and his native Tennessee.

Witten’s largest outreach program, SCOREkeepers, seeks to mold young boys into men by advocating domestic equality and the rightful treatment of women. Witten’s foundation has placed full-time male mentors in six women’s shelters in the Texas area with the purpose of demonstrating positive male behavior to the children living with their mothers.

Witten also strives to keep children off the streets by working hand-in-hand with several Boys and Girls Clubs. Backing several state-of-the-art recording studios for the nationally recognized youth foundation, Witten has shown furthermore his commitment to strengthening today’s youth.

A third program sponsored by Witten, appropriately named “Coaching Boys into Men,” educates high school football coaches how to teach their players the dangers of dating violence.

In addition to protecting today’s youth from the dangers of violence, Witten is steadfast in his pursuit toward making a healthier, more active generation of children. As one of the biggest proponents of the NFL Play 60 program, Witten has shown through countless offerings his dedication to the program, even going as far as independently buying out commercial radio spots to advertise the program in the state of Texas.

In an interview with Forbes.com, Witten showcased his generosity and perspective in a day and age in which community work is sometimes overshadowed by money and accolades.

“I want to be a guy, just like Walter, who tried to be the best player and help his team win championships, but along the way, he tried to make an impact,” Witten said.

In winning the award, Witten’s foundation was awarded twenty-six thousand dollars for further work in the community. Witten’s legacy far-exceeds his work on the field and should be recognized as a pioneer in the sculpting of today’s youngest minds.

All Sports United congratulates Witten on his extraordinary accomplishments and work in the community.

By: Joe Doyle
Special to All Sports United

For many, a nickname like ‘Peanut’ would imply miniscule or diminutive contributions to whatever the task may be. That could not be further from the truth for Chicago Bears cornerback Charles Tillman. Arguably the best cornerback in the NFL, Tillman’s efforts on the field pale in comparison to the extraordinary work he’s done in the community. Thanks to his indelible generosity, Tillman is now a finalist for the Byron “Whizzer” White Award.

The award is bestowed on one NFL player each year for their contributions in philanthropic work around their community and is considered the highest honor one can receive from the NFL Players Association.

The Charles Tillman Cornerstone Foundation was founded in 2005, and has since served over one million Chicago-area children in a multitude a ways.

The foundation’s largest program, ‘Charles’ Locker’, enhances the lives of critically ill children by providing them with the newest technologies including iPads, laptops, and Sony handheld PSP gaming devices to keep spirits high during their recovery and treatment. Since 2009, Tillman has opened up lockers at six hospitals in the Chicago area, serving almost 400,000 children combined.

“Our goal is to get all of the children’s hospitals,” said Tillman to the Chicago-Sun Times last July. “I think we’re on pace and doing a pretty good job.”

Tillman’s Cornerstone Foundation also offers the ‘Field of Dreams’ program, a second program catered to chronically and critically ill children by providing them ‘magical memories.’ The ‘Field of Dreams’ program helps make the wishes of young children come true. These wishes have included on-field passes to Bears games, meeting fellow Chicago Bears, and much more.

“When you have a foundation, and it’s personal… it’s from the heart,” said Tillman at a charity event in 2008.

Tillman’s work with critically ill children hits rather close to home for the two-time Pro Bowl invitee. In May of 2008, Charles’ three-month-old daughter, Tiana, was diagnosed with Dilated Cardiomyopathy.  In a dramatic YouTube video, Tillman described how he received the news from the doctors at the time.

“The doctors pulled me aside and said, “Your daughter is real sick,” Tillman said. “She might not make it through the night.”

Thankfully, Tiana survived the ordeal, and just two months later received not only a critical heart transplant, but a second chance at life altogether.

“Her second chance at life has given me new meaning to life,” Tillman said. “I can see her get married… there was a chance I would never get to see that.”

Since the ordeal, Tillman has made an exhaustive effort at giving back to the community. Already having won a handful of leadership awards for his work in the community, Tillman will have to beat out Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch, Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway, Browns tight end Benjamin Watson and Cowboys tight end Jason Witten to win the Byron “Whizzer” White Award.

Tillman has become synonymous for causing fumbles since entering the NFL. After almost having his most cherished possession stripped away from him, he’s now trying to do everything in his power to give back.

All Sports United congratulates Charles ‘Peanut’ Tillman on his commitment to philanthropy.

By: Joe Doyle

Special to All Sports United

Charlie Batch has been an accomplished NFL quarterback for over 15 years, but the impact he has made off the field  far exceeds  the impact he has made on the field. Thanks to his extensive work in the community, Batch is now a finalist for the Byron “Whizzer” White Award — a prestigious honor given to one player each year for his extraordinary work in the community.   The award is considered by the NFL Players Association to be the highest honor a player can be endowed during his tenure with the league.

The Best of the Batch Foundation was established in 2000 to serve underprivileged youth in the Pittsburgh area, helping to create opportunities for today’s youth to succeed at the highest-level possible. Batch takes a hands-on, active approach to his foundation, helping to coordinate community events, establish scholastic funds, and introduce job opportunities for Pittsburgh’s up-and-comers. The foundation focuses on boys and girls, age 7-18 years old.

“When you see the smiles, that’s what it’s all about,” said Batch to WPXI Pittsburgh this past December. “All the hard work and everything that you’re putting into it up to this point, when you see those smiles on the kids’ faces that’s what makes it special. It really warms your heart.”

The largest Best of the Batch program, Project C.H.U.C.K. (Continually Helping Uplift Community Kids), is a six-week intensive community oriented event in which children from around the Pittsburgh region compete in 20 basketball games each in the hopes of reaching the playoffs and tournament championship game. According to Batch, the event helps teach discipline, team orientation, and self-confidence. The program also aims to keep children off the streets and out of trouble.

This past November, Batch held his sixth annual In The Pocket fundraising event. The event, which features Ping-Pong, poker, and billiards, helps raise money for the Best of the Batch foundation through ticket and memorabilia sales to the general public. The festivities are very popular with current and former Steelers players, as well as local and regional celebrities.

“With so many people supporting everything that we’re doing… they believe in our cause,” said Batch to Steelers.com following the event. “A lot of the players support what we’re doing… and the fans. Without them, none of this is possible.”

In addition to setting up the Best of the Batch Foundation, the charismatic quarterback also introduced the nation to Batch and Me, a series of motivational speeches aimed at student-athletes. His words are designed to motivate the youth to excel in the classroom in addition to achieving success in sports.

Batch is no newcomer to the recognition and notoriety that comes with philanthropic devotion. Already bestowed with at least twelve awards acknowledging his dedication in the field, the humble, gracious signal-caller is now in-line to receive one of the the most honorable accolades in charitable work.

To win the Byron “Whizzer” White Award, Batch will have to beat out Chad Greenway (Minnesota Vikings), Charles Tillman (Chicago Bears), Benjamin Watson (Cleveland Browns) and Jason Witten (Dallas Cowboys), though as Batch would tell you, he was never in this for the eminence or distinction.

Award or not, Batch has changed the lives of thousands of children in the Pittsburgh area in the last decade or so and for that, distinction and notoriety should go without saying.

All Sports United congratulates Charlie Batch on his commitment to philanthropy and his guidance and contributions to the AllSportsUnited.org Community.

Shellie Y. Pfohl, M.S.
Executive Director, President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition 

Ms. Pfohl will join the ranks of prestigious industry leaders as a Keynote Speaker for the Inaugural All Sports United Sports Philanthropy Conference. The conference is being held in Indianapolis June 2013.

Shellie Pfohl was appointed by President Barack Obama in February, 2010 to serve as Executive Director of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition (PCFSN).  PCFSN educates, engages and empowers all Americans to lead a healthy, active lifestyle.  The Council is comprised of up to 25 volunteer citizens who advise the President through the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Ms. Pfohl is responsible for developing PCFSN’s vision and strategy, and directing its daily operations.  She also leads the Council’s efforts to support First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! initiative to end childhood obesity within a generation.

Prior to joining the Council, Ms. Pfohl co-founded and served as executive director of Be Active North Carolina, a non-profit organization aimed at increasing physical activity among North Carolinians.  She was also the founding director of Be Active America and served as executive director of the North Carolina Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Health.