The NBA landscape has shifted dramatically since the Toronto Raptors defeated the Golden State Warriors in the finals last month, creating an air of excitement for basketball fans. With Kevin Durant’s departure to the Brooklyn Nets and the Warriors moving to Chase Center in San Francisco, the team’s star player Stephen Curry remains a constant force on the court.
Curry, who has been with the Warriors since he was drafted in 2009, has solidified himself as one of the league’s top players. His impressive earnings and lucrative contracts showcase the financial rewards that come with being a top athlete in the NBA. Alongside his successful basketball career, Curry’s wife Ayesha has made a name for herself as a chef, entrepreneur, and author.
The couple, who tied the knot in Oakland in 2011, have deep roots in the community and recently launched the Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation. This charity aims to support the Oakland community by focusing on important pillars such as ending childhood hunger, ensuring access to quality education, and promoting healthy, active lifestyles.
By combining their passion for basketball and philanthropy, the Currys are taking their impact to the next level and making a positive difference in the lives of others.
Chris Helfrich, the CEO of the new foundation, has been involved in the nonprofit sector for a considerable amount of time. Previously, he led a global anti-malaria campaign named Nothing But Nets between 2011 and 2016. His connection with Stephen Curry began when he recruited the NBA star as a global ambassador for the campaign during his early days with the Golden State Warriors. Helfrich’s bond with the Curry family strengthened when they visited a refugee camp on the border of the Congo together, forming a close relationship over the past eight years. He also organized an event at the White House on malaria where Curry first met President Obama.
Recently, the Currys approached Helfrich to elevate their philanthropic efforts. The foundation’s focus, named Eat. Learn. Play., aims to explore the intersection of their interests in a thoughtful and intentional manner. Despite their young age and busy careers, the couple is dedicated to making a positive impact on the community.
The foundation’s initiatives concentrate on children and youth, a cause close to the heart of the Currys who have three young children. Through the three pillars of Eat, Learn, Play, the foundation addresses childhood hunger, quality education access, and safe sports environments for kids. Their partnership with Town Camps in Oakland exemplifies their dedication to providing nutritious meals and educational opportunities for local children and families.
Furthermore, the foundation’s collaboration with various organizations like No Kid Hungry, Oakland Promise Initiative, and Women’s and Girls’ issues demonstrates their commitment to making a lasting impact in the Oakland community. Plans for partnerships and upcoming events, such as hosting an all-girls basketball camp, showcase the foundation’s dedication to empowering youth and promoting positive change in the community.
Chris Helfrich, the only full-time staff member of the Eat. Learn. Play. foundation, mentioned that they are planning to expand and hire new team members in the upcoming months. The foundation aims to broaden its reach by the end of the year, allowing more grantseekers who may not be on their radar to apply for support.
Eat. Learn. Play. initially started as a public charity, presenting an opportunity for collaboration with existing organizations making a difference in the community. Helfrich emphasized their desire to work together with these organizations, combining their strengths with the added ‘Curry magic’ brought in by the Curry family through their time, influence, and connections.
The Currys are deeply invested in the foundation, committing to making a substantial annual contribution in the seven-figure range. In addition to funding programs, they are covering all operating expenses to ensure that every dollar donated directly benefits programming initiatives.
Helfrich expressed their hope of engaging Steph and Ayesha Curry’s fans and brand partners, such as Under Armour and GoDaddy, to become active supporters of the foundation. These partners showed strong support on the launch day, indicating the beginning of a fruitful partnership. Recognizing the Currys’ popularity and influence, the foundation aims to maximize their impact by encouraging widespread involvement rather than keeping it limited in scope.
Helfrich is looking forward to the possibility of the foundation expanding its efforts to encourage families all over the United States to spend more time eating, learning, and playing together. He believes it is important to have ambitious goals while also being considerate and ensuring that they are making a positive impact on the community. Helfrich emphasizes that forming strong partnerships will be key to their success.
