Doug Baldwin, Cliff Avril, and Michael Bennett have announced the return of a celebrity basketball game at Climate Pledge Arena. The game aims to become an annual event, as proclaimed by Champions of Change last year. Its primary objective is to generate revenue for non-profits in the Puget Sound region, highlighting Seattle athletes and their causes. Tickets for the June 23 game will be available to the public starting Friday, March 31st.
During its inaugural year, the game brought together Seattle sports legends such as Gary Payton, Sue Bird, and Marshawn Lynch, with announcers Joel McHale and Kevin Calabro. Courtside seats were filled with countless Seattle sports stars. The fundraising weekend resulted in more than $500,000 in grants for community organizations.
“We are so grateful for those who came out to support Champions of Change in the first year,” said Doug Baldwin. “We could feel the love from everyone in the arena, and we hope the community not only had a great time, but could also see that this event is about much more than a game.”
Aside from receiving funding, the non-profit organizations that were supported last year – Dignity for Divas, DADS, Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic, Women United, and Humble Design Seattle – also gained exposure from the Champions of Change platform. They were able to connect with resources created by Baldwin, Avril, and Bennett during and after their time playing with the Seahawks. Although only a few organizations will be chosen for support each year, all the supported organizations will remain part of the Champions of Change family. They will belong to a larger network of services available to those in need in the Puget Sound region.
“One of the best parts of our lives as athletes is that we have the opportunity to meet so many people across the country who make real impact in their communities,” said Bennett. “We’ve had the privilege of sharing ideas and connections, and we hope for Champions of Change to be a tool for collaboration among these change-making organizations.”
This year, the organization’s fundraising events will include:
The celebrity basketball game on June 23, 2023, featuring the legends of Seattle sports teams;
An auction and draft party on the evening before the game; and A day of service, when members of Champions of Change and fellow sports stars will dedicate their day to several projects in the region.
The June 23 Champions of Change Celebrity Basketball Game will be produced by 3PT, and the Day of Service is planned to be part of the events surrounding the 10th-year reunion of the Seahawks Superbowl Championship Team. Champions of Change will be making regular announcements of the participants in the game between now and the end of June.
“A lot of our friends are excited to come back to play,” said Avril, who shared the MVP trophy for the game along with Jamal Crawford, “And those who missed out are competing for slots. We all shared a lot of laughs last year, but a few of us were really out there trying to hoop. Our goal continues to be hosting a game with stars from all Seattle sports teams that both the players and fans look forward to every year.”
About Champions of Change
Champions of Change is a fundraising coalition of Championship Seahawks players, supercharging local organizations embedded within their community, offering services for families that champion dignity, empowerment and collaboration. For more information, visit https://championsofchangefoundation.org
