THE INSTITUTE FOR SPORT & SOCIAL JUSTICE ANNOUNCES MAYA MOORE IRONS AS FOURTH HONOREE FOR ANNUAL GALA
The basketball icon joins a lineup of sports elites including Florida’s own president of NASCAR, ESPN sports analyst, and former MLB Outfielder
ORLANDO, FL. – September 12, 2024 – The Institute for Sport and Social Justice is proud to announce Maya Moore Irons as the newest addition to the 2024 Power of Sport Gala, presented by Major League Baseball and NASCAR. The annual event, formerly known as the Giant Steps and Hall of Fame Awards, will take place on Thursday, October 24, 2024, at the Canvas Events Center in Orlando, Florida at 6:00 pm ET.
In addition to Maya Moore Irons, this year’s honorees include:
- Hall of Fame: Billy Bean (posthumous)
- Excellence in Sports Journalism: LaChina Robinson
- Power of Sport: Steve Phelps
Maya Moore Irons will be recognized as a Power of Sport honoree. Known for her remarkable career in collegiate and professional basketball and her courageous advocacy for criminal justice reform, Moore’s commitment to creating systemic change makes her a fitting addition to this year’s distinguished group.
“We are all familiar with Maya’s accomplishments and accolades on the court, but her activism and advocacy for criminal justice reform is legendary and tells the story of a person deeply committed to fighting injustice. We are honored to celebrate her legacy alongside Steve, LaChina and Billy’s family,” 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 is a convening of changemakers from the world of sport, corporate and community members who support the mission of the Institute, 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.
“Through her work with Win with Justice, Maya amplifies the voices of those who have been silenced and embodies our values of civic engagement. Her leadership and dedication set a powerful example for all,” said Institute CEO, Dr. Jeffrey O’Brien.
He added: “This year’s honorees embody our belief that sport is a powerful unifier for all. Each of our honorees have 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.”
Honoree Background Information
Hall of Fame: Billy Bean (Posthumous)
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, Billy sacrificed his playing career and made a stand for living authentically. He dedicated his life to being an ambassador for inclusion in title and in deeds – a true disruptor to the status quo. Billy led diversity and inclusion efforts as an executive at MLB, but sadly passed away on August 6, 2024 after a courageous one-year battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia.
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 the model for equity and inclusion in sports and society.
Power of Sport: Maya Moore Irons
Maya Moore Irons is a two-time NCAA champion, two-time Olympic gold medalist, four-time WNBA champion, WNBA MVP, and six-time All-Star. As a captain at the University of Connecticut, she led her team to back-to-back undefeated national championships and set the NCAA record for consecutive wins. In her first five pro seasons, Maya became the only player to win Rookie of the Year, All-Star MVP, and League MVP. She paused her career at the peak of her success to fight for justice, helping to overturn the wrongful conviction of Jonathan Irons, now her husband. Together, they advocate for criminal justice reform through their nonprofit, Win with Justice, focusing on district attorneys’ roles and empowering individuals to drive change.
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://secure.qgiv.com/event/powerofsportgala24/.
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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, The University of Texas at Austin, The 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.
