Not only is the Bay Area besting New York/New Jersey with its pledge, it’s changing the entire way the sports philanthropy game is played. Instead of waiting until the week leading up to the Super Bowl to award grants, gears were set in motion early to begin giving away grants a full 50 weeks before the 2016 kickoff, with at least one new grant awarded every week. Each Tuesday The 50 Fund announces a $10,000 Playmaker grant awarded to a different nonprofit. In addition, the charity nominates a “Playmaker,” someone who has made significant contributions of skills and time to the charity. The 50 Fund finances a video spotlighting both the Playmaker and the nonprofit they assist. The nonprofits may use the videos to raise both awareness and financial support. “We recognize the money is great, but the platform that we have is unlike any other opportunity, and we want to help facilitate that as much as possible,” Trimiew says. Los Altos resident Julie Cates, an early Playmaker representing ALearn, a nonprofit she cofounded that seeks to close the learning gap for low income students here in the South Bay, says she couldn’t be more pleased by how that platform is a springboard for future success. Many individual players have jumped into the fray by establishing their own foundations to share with the communities that nurtured them while growing up, as well as their adopted cities full of adoring fans. Notable 49ers, including Anquan Boldin, Vernon Davis, Ronnie Lott, Jerry Rice, Joe Montana and Steve Young, have not only left an indelible legacy on the gridiron, but also in Bay Area neighborhoods through their private foundations. “Growing up I had a lot of people who supported me in many ways, and I had strong parents and leaders in my life who encouraged giving back,” says 49er receiver Boldin. The star launched his Q81 Foundation in 2004, the second year of his NFL career. “There is tremendous need everywhere, and it is a blessing to be able to make a difference and to have my family, teammates and friends by my side,” Boldin adds. Like many team and player foundations, Boldin’s Q81 Foundation supports year-round youth athletics and activity programs, summer enrichment programs, and scholarships. Boldin’s foundation regularly supports programs here and in Florida, where he grew up and first played football, as well as profits, I know what it’s like to be on the grant seeking side.” However, Tshionyi also understands the grant maker’s point of view. He’s served on boards, which helps him understand how to create an effective one. Tshionyi quickly went about putting together a diverse board comprised of business and nonprofit leaders. He approached building the board like a coach would build a team, looking for players with different skill sets. His goal was to reflect the diversity of the Bay Area, including voices from different ethnicities, ages, geographies and backgrounds. “Together they make a nice hodgepodge or quilt,” Tshionyi says, adding with tongue firmly implanted in cheek, “We even have lefthanded people on the board.” THE GAME PLAN Early on, the board spent a lot of time listening to various voices and ideas, from members of the Host Committee to community leaders, business leaders and others. Over and over again these voices expressed a hope that the fund be more than a one-shot deal with short-term impact. “It just jumped out that if we want to invest in the future and leave a positive, lasting legacy, then centering around youth “I think it’s an incredible concept. I thought, wow, that’s really smart, to play off the Super Bowl 50, and instead of focusing on multimillion-dollar players, lets talk about supporting the community that supports the team,” Cates says, adding she wants to keep the momentum going. “I’m going to be very interested to see where all this goes past February’s game.” BUILDING THE TEAM Creating the most giving Super Bowl ever required proper recruitment. Lurie called on Kamba Tshionyi, a former Stanford basketball player who was universally viewed as a player-coach and well respected by his teammates. After graduating from Stanford, Tshionyi volunteered for the Peace Corps. He went on to serve as executive director of three local nonprofits, before becoming a vice president at J.P. Morgan, where he actively exercises his philanthropic interests. “I jumped at the opportunity,” Tshionyi says of the call he received from Lurie in the summer of 2013. He knew he brought a rare combination of nonprofit and business experience to the equation. “I think it’s helpful in giving me perspective on both sides of the table,” Tshionyi says. “Having run a couple of non- 49ers Give Back Baltimore, where the veteran receiver played for the Ravens. Boldin says he and his foundation regularly take part in 49ers charity events, like Shop With a Player, where underserved children get to shop with local players at the holidays, and Turning Wheels for Kids, which provides bikes for children. 52 South Bay Accent San Francisco 49er Anquan Boldin teamed up with Levi’s to take San Jose students on a shopping spree. ROBERT G. CRUZ
South Bay Accent - Dec 2015/Jan 2016
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