Stephen Curry dan Baltimore Ravens Raih Penghargaan Kemanusiaan ESPN 2026

Bintang NBA Stephen Curry dan tim NFL Baltimore Ravens membawa pulang penghargaan tertinggi dalam ajang tahunan Sports Humanitarian Awards 2026 yang diselenggarakan oleh ESPN di Gotham Hall, New York, pada Selasa malam.

Acara penghargaan ke-12 ini memberikan apresiasi kepada para atlet, tim, dan pelaku industri olahraga yang dinilai aktif memberikan dampak positif bagi masyarakat luas.

Stephen Curry, pemain Golden State Warriors, dianugerahi Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award berkat kontribusi besarnya melalui Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation yang ia dirikan bersama istrinya, Ayesha Curry, sejak 2019.

Yayasan tersebut berfokus pada nutrisi anak, literasi, serta akses aktivitas fisik di Oakland dengan mendistribusikan jutaan makanan bergizi, merenovasi puluhan lapangan sekolah, dan menyediakan ruang baca.

Penghargaan tersebut diserahkan langsung oleh Lonnie Ali selaku Presiden dan CEO Muhammad Ali Center kepada Curry.

"Oakland gave us so much love, support and energy, and this is how we are able to continue to get back to the community that has wrapped its arms around us from the very beginning back in 2009. We’re just excited to meet kids where they already are every single day, because if you invest in a child, you’re investing in everything that’s possible for their future." ujar Stephen Curry, Pemain Golden State Warriors.

Sementara itu, Baltimore Ravens dinobatkan sebagai Sports Humanitarian Team of the Year karena komitmen jangka panjang mereka dalam membangun platform pengembangan pemuda yang komprehensif.

Ravens tercatat menginvestasikan jutaan dolar untuk pendidikan, literasi, penyediaan makanan bagi keluarga kurang mampu, serta pembangunan fasilitas komunitas seperti Boys & Girls Club di Baltimore.

"It's an incredible honor," kata Heather Darney, Wakil Presiden Hubungan Komunitas Baltimore Ravens.

"We certainly don't do it for the recognition, but I think it's important that we be a leader. The fact that ESPN is recognizing us as a leader in this space is remarkable and certainly something we're very proud of." lanjut Heather Darney, Wakil Presiden Hubungan Komunitas Baltimore Ravens.

Komitmen sosial klub asal Maryland ini telah berlangsung lama dan terus dikembangkan oleh jajaran kepemilikan hingga manajemen klub.

"It has always been part of who the Ravens' identity," kata Heather Darney, Wakil Presiden Hubungan Komunitas Baltimore Ravens.

"When you have a team like this, and you know how important and special its connection with the city and community is, we have an obligation to step up and help out." tambah Heather Darney, Wakil Presiden Hubungan Komunitas Baltimore Ravens.

Dalam beberapa tahun terakhir, investasi sosial dari Baltimore Ravens semakin masif dengan fokus yang sangat terarah.

"Recently, we've really doubled down," ujar Heather Darney, Wakil Presiden Hubungan Komunitas Baltimore Ravens.

"These really substantial initiatives show we're not just doing a little bit here and there. I think we've taken, even just in the investment level, a really big step in that commitment to our community. To see all that come to life is pretty cool." pungkas Heather Darney, Wakil Presiden Hubungan Komunitas Baltimore Ravens.

Selain Curry dan Ravens, pemilik Philadelphia Eagles Jeffrey Lurie menerima Stuart Scott ENSPIRE Award berkat donasi lebih dari 100 juta dolar untuk advokasi autisme.

Co-owner New York Giants dan Gotham FC, Laurie Tisch, juga dianugerahi penghargaan Sports Philanthropist of the Year lewat inisiatif Play to Thrive senilai 10 juta dolar.

ESPN bersama Disney dan ABC memanfaatkan momentum ini untuk mengumumkan gerakan penggalangan dana tambahan sebesar 10 juta dolar guna mendukung penelitian kanker pediatrik melalui V Foundation.

"In celebration of ESPN’s first Super Bowl broadcast in February, we are proud to come together with Disney and ABC to raise an additional $10 million for pediatric cancer research at the V Foundation," kata Burke Magnus, Presiden Konten ESPN.

"Pediatric cancer research is needed now more than ever, and we hope this campaign accelerates research, expands opportunities, and helps children and their families declare Victory Over Cancer." tambah Burke Magnus, Presiden Konten ESPN.