The Sports Humanitarian Awards celebrate and honor athletes, teams, leagues and members of the sports industry for using sport to make a positive impact on society.
Now in its tenth year, the evening, which takes place annually in July, recognizes incredible changemakers that are using the power of sports to uplift communities. An independent selection committee selects the Sports Humanitarian Award winners - athletes, teams, leagues and corporations who are taking on some of today's most pressing needs. An ESPN committee selects the ENSPIRE Award winners - those in the sports sector taking risk and using innovation to help the disadvantaged.
ESPN grants $1 million to the charities of the nominees and winners. In addition, the net proceeds of the event benefit the Stuart Scott Memorial Cancer Research Fund at the V Foundation, which encourages cutting-edge research for African Americans, Hispanics and other minority populations suffering from cancer. Over $23 million has been donated to the community on behalf of the Sports Humanitarian Awards since its inception ten years ago.
2023 Honorees:
Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award (click to view link)
Jrue Holiday, Milwaukee Bucks, and Lauren Holiday (retired U.S. Women's National Team)
Sports Humanitarian Team of the Year Award (click to view link)
San Antonio Spurs
Corporate Community Impact Award (click to view link)
Microsoft (2021)
League Humanitarian Leadership Award (click to view link)
WNBA (2022)
Billie Jean King Youth Leadership Award (click to view link)
Jordan Adeyemi, Ashley Badis, Rishan Patael
Stuart Scott ENSPIRE Awards (click to view link)
Dr. Richard Lapchick
Sports Philanthropist of the Year Award (click to view link)
Arthur M. Blank (2021)
Marvel's Earth's Mightiest Athletes (click to view link)
2021
Julie Ertz, United States Women's National Team
Donovan Mitchell, Utah Jazz
Francis, Ngannou, UFC Heavyweight Champion
Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks
Sports Sustainability Leadership Award (click to view link)
adidas (2019)