THE INSTITUTE FOR SPORT & SOCIAL JUSTICE ANNOUNCES HONOREES FOR ANNUAL GALA
The lineup of sports elites includes Florida’s own president of NASCAR, ESPN sports analyst, and an Executive at MLB
ORLANDO – July 29, 2024 – The Institute for Sport and Social Justice will honor three sports game changers at its annual Power of Sport Gala (formerly the Giant Steps and Hall of Fame Awards). Started in 1999, this capstone event is a decades long tradition that honors individuals who use their power and influence in sports to break barriers and draw awareness to social justice causes. The gala will take place on Thursday, October 24, 2024, at the Canvas Events Center in Orlando, Florida, at 6:00 p.m. ET.
This year’s Power of Sport Gala Honorees:
Hall of Fame: Billy Bean
Excellence in Sports Journalism: LaChina Robinson
Power of Sport: Steve Phelps
“It’s a privilege to recognize this year’s honorees, each of whom have used their platform in sport for the greater good, even when it resulted in backlash and more hardship for them, ” said Richard Lapchick, founder and president of the Institute. “We hope sharing their stories will move everyone to do more to use the power of sport to heal our world.”
The Power of Sport Gala convenes changemakers from the world of sport, corporate and community members who support the Institute’s mission, and dreamers who believe in the power of one to make a difference for the many. Former honorees include Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Robin Roberts, Allyson Felix, Muhammad Ali, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Danny Wuerffel, Carmelo Anthony, Jordyn Wieber, Jackie Robinson, and many others.
Institute CEO Dr. Jeffrey O’Brien added, “This year’s honorees embody our belief that sport is a powerful unifier for all. Each of our honorees has shown courage in facing down social problems and using their platform in athletics to be the change we want to see in the world. We are thrilled to shine a celebratory light on their acts of bravery and, at times, self-sacrifice. Please join us for a transformational evening!”
Honoree Background Information
Hall of Fame: Billy Bean
It takes a special kind of resiliency to be only one, and another level of leadership and courage to use that position to inspire an entire industry while advocating for inclusion. As one of only two openly gay Major League Baseball players (past or present) alive today and the only one working at MLB, Billy sacrificed his playing career and made a stand for living authentically. He has dedicated his life to being an ambassador for inclusion in title and in deeds – a true disruptor to the status quo. Today, Bean leads diversity and inclusion efforts as an executive at MLB.
Excellence in Sports Journalism: LaChina Robinson
In addition to her excellence on-air for both ESPN and NBC, LaChina Robinson’s passion for mentorship and commitment to empowering young women of color shine brightly through her nonprofit, Rising Media Stars. She is committed to ushering in the next generation of TV talent and ensuring groups who are underrepresented in this space have more opportunities and access.
Power of Sport: Steve Phelps
As NASCAR’s president, Steve Phelps has used his platform to promote the organization’s values of inclusion, respect, diversity, and belonging. Under his leadership, NASCAR banned the Confederate Flag and created new activations for the LGBTQ+ community, which were just a few groundbreaking moves for the organization. He champions diverse hiring practices for leadership and is a model for equity and inclusion in sports and society.
To learn more about the Power of Sport gala and how to get involved, contact our team at [email protected]. Tickets are on sale and can be purchased on the Power of Sport Gala website: https://tinyurl.com/powerofsport2024.
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About The Institute for Sport & Social Justice:
At the Institute for Sport and Social Justice, we believe sport is a universal language that unites people across borders, fostering understanding and cooperation. Through dynamic educational delivery, knowledge creation, and community building, we equip and empower individuals in sport to be leaders of change for their communities and the world at large. Founded by human rights activists, Dr. Richard Lapchick in 1985, today we are a group of former athletes, scholars and content experts who continue his fight for social good. In the past year, the Institute delivered nearly 250 training programs for over 6,000 leaders in sport organizations, such as the NCAA, ESPN Wide World of Sports, Arizona Diamondbacks, Minnesota Twins, Chicago Bulls, the PAC-12 Conference, University of Texas at Austin, University of Michigan, and Clemson to name a few.
About the Power of Sport Gala:
In 1999, The Institute (formerly known as the National Consortium for Academics & Sports) began recognizing the “true heroes of sports” for their courage, heroism, triumph in the midst of adversity, and community activism through the power of sport. For the past 25 years, honorees and Hall of Fame inductees that have been in attendance include Muhammad Ali, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Coach Eddie Robinson, Anita DeFrantz, Nancy Lieberman, Jordyn Wieber, Robin Roberts, Danny Wuerffel, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, to name a few.
