CHICAGO — The Chicago Sky players will donate $10 for every point team scored, $100 for every win, and $50 for any loss throughout the 2020 WNBA season under a newly-unveiled social justice initiative called #SkyTakesAction, the team announced today.
In partnership with Athletes for Justice, founded by Sam Acho of the Chicago Bears, the Sky players will challenge and encourage fans and businesses to come together as a community by matching their donations, in any way that they are able to. All proceeds the#SkyTakesAction fund will go directly to organizations in the Chicagoland area working locally in the field of community empowerment.
The donations will be distributed to the following organizations: By the Hand Club for Kids, BYP100, The Movement for Black Lives ( M4BL ), Firehouse Community Arts Center of Chicago, and Future Ties.
"We want to use this season as an opportunity to change our community," Gabby Williams said. "Even though we aren't there physically, Chicago is still home. We as a league made a pledge that this season would be dedicated to social justice and fighting inequalities. We wanted to use our platforms in the most efficient way possible, which means getting as many people involved as possible in our initiative.
Donations will be collected at the #SkyTakesAction fundraising page at mightycause.com/donate/A4jxchicagosky, which can be found on all Chicago Sky player and team social media platforms, or via sky.wnba.com, and athletesforjustice.org .
"#SkyTakesAction is about longevity and community," Williams continued. "It's about inspiring others and teaching everyone that it doesn't take much to change someone's life, or improve somebody's situation as long as we work together. Of course, our goal is to raise absolutely as much money as possible for the organizations we've chosen. But it's also about education and changing the norm. Hopefully this will inspire and teach our fans and those who hear us to increase their level of involvement in the community."
The team will sport custom warmups for the initiative throughout the season, as well as auction special personal items and fan experiences for those who join the players by supporting the cause. Each week, the top donor will receive a personal call from the team and featured on the Sky's social media and digital platforms.
As result of the first victory of the 2020 season ( 88-86 ) against the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday, July 26, the Sky players will be personally contributing $980 to the #SkyTakesAction fund. The fundraising page will be updated on a bi-weekly basis to reflect the previous two weeks of games and the Sky players' total personal dollars donated.
"I'm very proud of the initiative that our players took to create this action that was set for equality and justice in our society today," said Sky General Manager and Head Coach James Wade. "I'm also very proud of our players and the leadership they portrayed in using their voice for the voiceless and speaking up for causes which they deem and I deem very important. This is something that has brought us something together as a group and has actually given us purpose that is much deeper than winning games."
For more information on #SkyTakesAction, visit sky.wnba.com, Athletes for Justice, or mightycause.com and search "Sky Takes Action."
