Giving With Purpose: How Sport’s Most Active Donors Build Real Opportunity Beyond the Game

The Baltimore Marriott Waterfront will host a gathering this month that looks different from typical sports galas. When Advancing Beyond in Sports (ABIS) brings together established leaders for their 4th Annual Champions & Legends Weekend on 27-28 June, the weekend starts not with speeches but with a career fair. Young people get first access to industry connections before the formal recognition begins.

The blend of classic and urban fashion at Saturday evening’s gala reflects the organisation’s approach to bridging worlds. Sports legends mingle with youth who attended Friday’s career fair, creating connections that extend beyond networking into genuine opportunity building.

Why High-Impact Giving Focuses on Equity

ABIS has built its work around a specific thesis: that sports can create pathways to economic mobility when combined with targeted career development and social justice advocacy. Founded in 2020 by Gary Charles, described as New York’s Godfather of Grassroots Basketball, the organisation addresses gaps in traditional sports philanthropy by focusing specifically on racial, economic and social justice for individuals in sports.

The organisation’s track record includes graduating students from financial literacy programmes designed for college athletes and partnerships with organisations like INROADS to address career development challenges faced by Black student-athletes. These programmes help athletes transition to post-athletic careers with concrete skills rather than just inspiration.

From The Pitch to the Boardroom: Who Gets Honoured and Why

This year’s ten honorees represent different aspects of sports leadership and community impact. Jacqie McWilliams Parker, receiving the ABIS Executive Excellence Award, serves as Commissioner of the CIAA and was the first Black female to hold this position. Her work has focused on creating lasting opportunities for women in sports administration and establishing mental wellness initiatives for student-athletes.

Chrysa Chin, EVP of Relations at the NBPA and recipient of the ABIS Trailblazer Award, brings crisis management expertise and player development experience that extends internationally through her work with the Basketball Africa League. Meanwhile, ESPN commentator LaChina Robinson receives the William C. Rhoden Sports Media Award for her sports journalism and advocacy for women’s sports visibility.

The awards span community service (Keith Stevens of Team Takeover AAU), education leadership (former U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan) and economic development (Walt Williams, who combines business leadership with Maryland sports radio). Each recipient represents a different pathway for using sports connections toward broader community impact.

Conversations and Connections: The Real Impact of the Career Fair

Friday’s career fair operates on practical terms. Young professionals and students get direct access to industry leaders, creating entry points into sports and related fields that go beyond inspirational meetings. The format prioritises substantive conversations over ceremonial interactions.

Baltimore’s own youth employment data provides context for why this approach matters. The city’s YouthWorks program placed 9,553 youth in paid summer jobs across 747 employers in 2024, paying $15 per hour. Programmes that combine mentorship with concrete job placement consistently show better outcomes than those offering networking alone.

ABIS’s Model: Giving with Purpose

Rather than operating as a traditional grant-making organisation, ABIS functions more like a coalition. Members include coaches, administrators, athletes, academics, business leaders and community advocates who work year-round on programming that extends beyond annual recognition events.

The organisation publishes the Black Coaches Watchlist and maintains partnerships with established groups to amplify existing work rather than duplicate efforts. This approach allows donors to support effective fundraising networks where individual contributions create broader community impact.

Where the Money Goes – and Why That Matters

Money spent with grassroots groups like ABIS often produces different outcomes than funding traditional large charities, particularly for donors seeking measurable social mobility results. Grassroots sports organisations can drive positive social, political and economic reforms, especially for marginalised communities.

The organisation’s financial literacy programmes have graduated numerous college athletes with essential skills for financial well-being during and after their sports careers. These concrete outcomes appeal to donors who want to see specific skill-building rather than general inspiration.

Research consistently shows that grassroots sports organisations contribute significantly to community well-being by reducing crime, improving mental and physical health and enhancing educational outcomes through positive role models and safe environments.

The Quiet Power of the Right Network

When donors, athletes and advocates build networks like ABIS, the outcomes extend beyond recognition ceremonies. Young people gain access to mentors who can provide industry-specific guidance and concrete opportunities for advancement. The model works because it connects established professionals with emerging talent in structured ways that benefit both parties.

The weekend’s format – career fair followed by recognition gala – reflects this practical approach. The celebration serves the important function of maintaining relationships and attracting resources, but the career development component provides immediate value to young participants.

For donors interested in giving that combines sports passion with social mobility outcomes, organisations like ABIS offer a different model than traditional athletic charity. The focus on equity and inclusion, combined with year-round programming and measurable career development outcomes, provides a framework for giving that extends beyond seasonal charitable impulses.

Event tickets and more information about ABIS’s work are available at weareabis.org. The organisation represents one approach to using sports connections for broader community development – an example worth studying for donors seeking to maximise impact through well-planned charitable choices.