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In The Latest Sports And Entertainment News Around NBA Star Steph Curry
NBA star Stephen Curry and his wife, Ayesha Curry, have announced a groundbreaking initiative to transform education in their beloved adopted hometown of Oakland. Through their foundation, Eat. Learn. Play., The couple plans to raise and invest over $50 million by 2026 to support Oakland students. The main focus of this initiative is to improve Oakland public schools and provide essential resources for students, including nutritious meals, literacy support, improved schoolyards, and youth sports opportunities.
The foundation will cover all administrative and fundraising costs, ensuring that every dollar raised directly benefits the community. The initiative is expected to have a significant impact on the nearly 35,000 students in the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD). Eat. Learn. Play. will work alongside community partners to achieve tangible results for Oakland students and advocate for systemic changes that uplift the youth in the community.
In a statement, the Currys expressed their motivation for launching Eat. Learn. Play., stating that they saw the need in Oakland and wanted to use their platform and resources to unlock the potential of the local children.
“When we launched Eat. Learn. Play. in 2019, we saw the tremendous need that existed in our adopted hometown of Oakland and set out to use our platform and resources to work to unlock the full potential of the kids in our community,” the Curry’s said.“Over the years, we’ve been inspired by the impact that happens when a community comes together to make a change, and we are now further invested to meet Oakland kids where they are each and every day, to transform their school experience and create lasting change for generations to come.”
They have been inspired by the impact that can be made when a community comes together to create change and are committed to transforming the school experience for generations to come. The foundation has already achieved remarkable results in its three pillars.
It has raised over $47 million, provided more than 25 million meals, invested $6 million in literacy resources, and revitalized 12 school and community play spaces. Chris Helfrich, CEO of Eat. Learn. Play., emphasized the importance of community partnerships in improving the lives of children and families.
“We often say ‘it takes a village’ when it comes to improving the lives of children and families,”said Chris Helfrich, CEO of Eat. Learn. Play. “This expanded approach and partnership with OUSD reflect how our community partners are coming together to ensure all Oakland students have access to quality school meals throughout the year.
The expanded approach and collaboration with OUSD aim to ensure that all Oakland students have access to high-quality school meals throughout the year. The foundation will invest significantly over the next three years to support OUSD’s Central Kitchen, Education Center, and Instructional Garden & Farm, providing over 6 million healthy, scratch-cooked meals annually.
Superintendent Kyla Johnson-Trammell commended the partnership between Eat. Learn. Play. and OUSD, highlighting the impact it has had on renovating outdoor play spaces in schools. The foundation’s commitment to enhancing school cafeterias and providing culturally affirming books to students also shows its dedication to creating engaging and dignified spaces for students to learn and socialize.
In addition to their work with OUSD, the Currys will collaborate with organizations like the Alameda County Community Food Bank, Brigade, Community Kitchens, No Kid Hungry, Trust for Public Land, TomKat Foundation, and UC Berkeley. The foundation will also provide high-dosage tutoring for students below grade level and distribute culturally relevant books to Oakland youth.
They plan to transform 25 schoolyards throughout Oakland and revitalize school sports programs to ensure all students have access to quality youth sports experiences. The initiative includes remodeling six schoolyards at OUSD campuses in 2023, creating safe and high-quality spaces for active play. Partnerships with the Oakland Athletic League, OUSD’s Expanded Learning Program, KABOOM!, Aspen Institute, Under Armour, Oakland Genesis Soccer Club, Oakland Lacrosse, Positive Coaching Alliance, and Sport Court will further support the foundation’s efforts.
