When Stephen Curry accepted one of sports' highest honors for community work, he kept his speech simple: Oakland gave us so much love, and this is how we give back. The four-time NBA champion was honored at the 12th annual Sports Humanitarian Awards in New York City on July 14, where athletes and sports leaders gathered to celebrate people using their platforms for good.
Curry received the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award for his Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation, which he co-founded with his wife Ayesha Curry in 2019 to support youth development in Oakland, California. "If you invest in a child, you're investing in everything that's possible for their future," Curry said while accepting the award from Lonnie Ali of the Muhammad Ali Center.
Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie also took home an award. He received the Stuart Scott ENSPIRE Award for his groundbreaking work in autism advocacy. Lurie has contributed more than $100 million through the Eagles Autism Foundation and the Lurie Autism Institute, helping families access resources and support.
Laurie Tisch, co-owner of the New York Giants and Gotham FC, earned the Sports Philanthropist of the Year Award. Her foundation's $10 million Play to Thrive initiative uses sports to expand access and mentorship opportunities for underserved communities, with a special focus on getting more girls involved in athletics.
The Baltimore Ravens were named Sports Humanitarian Team of the Year for their wide-ranging youth development programs. The team has invested millions of dollars in education, literacy, and community spaces while encouraging players and staff to volunteer in their neighborhoods. Team president Sashi Brown accepted the award.
The evening also recognized young leaders making a difference. Julia Howe, Kelis Armstrong, and Sam Phillips received the Billie Jean King Youth Leadership Award for using sports to create change in their communities. Jersey Mike's earned the Corporate Community Impact Award for its 50-year partnership with the Special Olympics.
The event carried extra meaning because all proceeds support the V Foundation for Cancer Research. During the ceremony, ESPN, Disney, and ABC announced a joint goal to raise an additional $10 million for pediatric cancer research ahead of Super Bowl LXI. Thanks to support from major sponsors including the NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, and others, more than $2 million has already been collected toward that target.