"Change can be made when people come together."
Learn about Sam's vision.
Athletes for Justice is a nonprofit organization founded by professional athletes seeking to amplify the strength and resilience of under-resourced communities across the country. The story began in 2017, when members of the Chicago Bears recognized the impact of kneeling demonstrations and felt motivated to take action against the social and racial inequities nationwide. The team staged a peaceful protest by locking arms during the national anthem and also raised $250,000 as a team, matched by the Bears’ front office, to go toward social justice causes.
In 2018, five team members (Sam Acho, Trey Burton, Chase Daniel, Akiem Hicks, and Mitch Trubisky) felt inspired to seek lasting change and banded together to create Athletes for Justice. They prioritized listening to members of communities and learning how they could help optimize assets that already exist within their neighborhoods.
Today, what began as five athletes from the Chicago Bears has since welcomed athletes from the NFL, NBA, WNBA, NHL, and MLB who are all committed to fighting structural inequalities in Chicago and beyond.
Why the Time is Now
Since our inception, we have committed to standing behind the people of our communities and to lending our collective voice, time, and resources to the organizations that are making a difference in the communities they serve.
As global protests have stoked the public consciousness of racial injustice, we seek to galvanize the energy and passion of the moment to drive long-lasting change.
We believe that athletes from every walk of life can shape the future of our country through sustainable, locally led initiatives that put funding toward grassroots, justice-oriented solutions. We are committed to amplifying POC-lead and under-resourced organizations that can increase their impact with our support. We strive to unite weekend warriors, daily gymers, and collegiate and professional athletes to advance justice by improving access to public health, expanding educational opportunities, and alleviating the impact of poverty in communities across the country.