Louder Than Words: Our Continued Support

On June 3rd we took a stand against racial injustice and published our initial statement in support of the #BlackLivesMatter movement and the Black community. Every day since we’ve worked to ensure our actions speak louder than our words. While much more is to come, our monetary donation and Community Voices are our first steps in us becoming a stronger ally.

Community Voices

The next step in our commitment/responsibility to being a better ally. We will be highlighting and amplifying black voices within our community. Each week we’ll be hosting an IG Live with a guest who will help us dive into important topics about the #BlackLivesMatter movement.

Episode One: Discussing Juneteenth w/ Terrence J

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As a part of our commitment and responsibilities as an ally, we intend to highlight and amplify black voices within our community. Each week, our Senior Cultural Partnerships Strategist @omarr will be introducing you to a new guest who will be diving into important topics about the #BlackLivesMatter movement. This week, our #FNLFam linked up with @terrencej on @finishline Live to discuss #Juneteenth, the importance of education around what it means, and resources on how to respectfully observe this day.

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Episode Two: Discussing The Importance of Being An Ally w/ Evelynn Escobar-Thomas

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As a part of our commitment and responsibilities as an ally, we intend to highlight and amplify black voices within our community. Each week, we’ll be introducing you to a new guest who will be diving into important topics about the #BlackLivesMatter movement. This week, we linked up with @evemeetswest to discuss what it means to be an ally, and how individuals can help.

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Episode Three: Discussing the Evolution of Black Music in America

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As a part of our commitment and responsibilities as an ally, we intend to highlight and amplify black voices within our community. Each week our Senior Cultural Partnerships Strategist, @omarr will be introducing you to a new guest who will be diving into important topics about the #BlackLivesMatter movement. This week, our #FNLFam connects with Lenny Santiago (@kodaklens), SVP of Artist Management at Roc Nation to examine the evolution of Black music in America.

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Episode Four: Discussing the Importance of Mentorship in the Black Community w/ Kareem ‘Biggs’ Burke

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As a part of our commitment and responsibilities as an ally, we intend to highlight and amplify black voices within our community. Each week our Senior Cultural Partnerships Strategist, @omarr , will be introducing you to a new guest who will be diving into important topics about the #BlackLivesMatter movement. This week, we connect with Kareem “Biggs” Burke. @biggsburke

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Episode Five: Discussing the Plight of Inner City Youth w/ Lala Anthony

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As a part of our commitment and responsibilities as an ally, we intend to highlight and amplify black voices within our community. Each week our Senior Cultural Partnerships Strategist, @omarr , will be introducing you to a new guest who will be diving into important topics about the #BlackLivesMatter movement. This week, link up with @lala to discuss the challenges facing inner city youth and how her La La Land Foundation is helping to rebuild the confidence in this community.

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Episode 6: Discussing the challenges the Black community faces in Washington, D.C. with John Wall

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As a part of our commitment and responsibilities as an ally, we intend to highlight and amplify black voices within our community. Each week our Senior Cultural Partnerships Strategist, @omarr will be introducing you to a new guest who will be diving important topics about the #BlackLivesMatter movement. This week we link up with @washwizards guard @johnwall to discuss challenges faced by the Black community in our nation’s capital and his @jwfamilyfoundation work.

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Episode 7: Discussing the #BlackLivesMatter movement and Indigenous Australian basketball with Patty Mills

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As a part of our commitment and responsibilities as an ally, we intend to highlight and amplify black voices within our community. Each week our Senior Cultural Partnerships Strategist, @omarr , will be introducing you to a new guest who will be diving into important topics about the #BlackLivesMatter movement. This week, we link up with @balapat to discuss the @nba , his efforts in supporting #BLM along with the importance of the @indigenousbasketball in Australia.

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Episode 9: Discussing the importance of supporting Black-owned business with Moe Harkless.

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As part of our commitment and responsibilities as an ally, we intend to highlight and amplify black voices within our community. Each week our Senior Cultural Partnerships Strategist, @omarr will be introducing you to a new guest who will be diving into important topics about #BlackLivesMatter. This week we speak with @nyknicks forward @moe_harkless about the importance of supporting Black-owned business.

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Episode 10: Discussing the impact that the NBA has on social justice issues and the importance of Black mentorship with Tobias Harris.

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As a part of our commitment and responsibilities as an ally, we intend to highlight and amplify black voices within our community. Each week our Senior Cultural Partnerships Strategist, @omarr will be introducing you to a new guest who will be diving into important topics about the #BlackLivesMatter movement. This week we speak with @tobiasharris of the @sixers about the impact that the @NBA has on social justice issues and the importance of Black mentorship.

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Episode 11: Discussing the NBA’s efforts in amplifying the importance of #BLM and the role that education plays in moving towards change with Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Stanley Johnson.

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As a part of our commitment and responsibilities as an ally, we intend to highlight and amplify black voices within our community. Each week our Senior Cultural Partnerships Strategist, @omarr will be introducing you to a new guest who will be diving into important topics about the #BlackLivesMatter movement. This week, we connect with Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (@chap) and Stanley Johnson (@stanimal) of the @raptors to discuss the #NBA’s efforts in amplifying the importance of #BLM and the role that education plays in moving towards change.

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Episode 13: Knicks forward Julius Randle discusses the importance of education opportunities in low-income communities

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As a part of our commitment and responsibilities as an ally, we intend to highlight and amplify black voices within our community. Each week our Senior Cultural Partnerships Strategist, @omarr will be introducing you to a new guest who will be diving into important topics about the #BlackLivesMatter movement. For this week’s edition, we’re joined by @nyknicks forward @juliusrandle30 . He speaks to the importance of ensuring that low-income communities have access to education opportunities.

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Episode 14: Pacers guard Malcolm Brogdon links up to discuss his family’s history of supporting social justice

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As a part of our commitment and responsibilities as an ally, we intend to highlight and amplify black voices within our community. Each week our Senior Cultural Partnerships Strategist, @omarr will be introducing you to a new guest who will be diving into important topics about the #BlackLivesMatter movement. This week, we are joined by @malcolmbrogdon of the #Pacers to continue the conversation around the importance of education, as well as speak to Malcolm’s family history in supporting social justice, and the work he’s doing through @brogdonfamilyfnd in helping communities in Eastern Africa get access to clean water.

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Episode 15: Retired Yankees great CC Sabathia discusses sports and educational opportunities in low income areas

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As a part of our commitment and responsibilities as an ally, we intend to highlight and amplify black voices within our community. Each week our Senior Cultural Partnerships Strategist, @omarr will be introducing you to a new guest who will be diving into important topics about the #BlackLivesMatter movement. This week, we’re joined by @yankees legend @cc_sabathia, who speaks to the amazing work his @pitcchinfdn is doing in providing sports and education opportunities for inner-city youth.

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Episode 16: Jalen Rose comes through to discuss the importance of voting

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As a part of our commitment and responsibilities as an ally, we intend to highlight and amplify black voices within our community. Each week our Senior Cultural Partnerships Strategist, @omarr will be introducing you to a new guest who will be diving into important topics about the #BlackLivesMatter movement. This week we’re joined by Jalen Rose (@jalenvseverybody) to discuss the amazing work he’s doing through @jalenroseleadershipacademy, as well as the importance of voting.

A post shared by JD Sports US (@jdsportsus) on Oct 2, 2020 at 1:48pm PDT

Episode 17: Becky G speaks on the importance of voting in the Latinx community

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As a part of our commitment and responsibilities as an ally, we intend to highlight and amplify voices within our community. Each week our Senior Cultural Partnerships Strategist, @omarr will be introducing you to a new guest who will be diving into important topics affecting the community. This week we’re excited to welcome @IAmBeckyG – and we did things a little differently. We hosted the convo in Spanish (w/ English subtitles) in honor of #LatinxHeritageMonth. Becky joins us to discuss the importance of voting in the Latinx community, the incredible work @LatinoCommFdn is doing, and her passion for spreading awareness for the cause through her podcast, @EnLaSalaPodcast (available through @AmazonMusicLatin).

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Episode 18: Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade speak on the importance of voting

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As a part of our commitment and responsibilities as an ally, we intend to highlight and amplify voices within our community. Each week our Senior Cultural Partnerships Strategist, @omarr introduces you to a new guest who will be diving into important topics affecting the community. For Volume 18, we’re joined by future @NBA Hall of Famers @carmeloanthony, @dwyanewade, & @cp3. They’ll be discussing the power of voting, how their @socialchangefnd is empowering people to vote, their partnership with @hbcuheroes and the work they’re doing to empower communities of color.

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Our Commitment to Act

When we published our initial statement we made an obligation to act. This is our first short term action against that obligation. Our company as well as our Youth Foundation will donate an initial $1.5 million to amplify local and national organizations that make a difference in Black communities as well as programs and initiatives to create a more diverse workforce and progress the careers and education of many of our employees. We are still finalizing the details, however these funds will help us evolve in the right ways.

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Last week we shared our obligation to act. Today, we’re announcing the first step. Link in bio for the details on our initial $1.5 million investment. It’s time for our actions to be louder than words. #BlackLivesMatter

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Episode 19: Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade speak on the importance of giving back to the community

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Episode 20: Sloane Stephens on the work her foundation is doing to empower children around the world

Episode 21: JD Finish Line team members discuss what they’re doing to help counter social injustice in their community

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Episode 22: Stephen A. Smith comes through to discuss the importance of HBCUs

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Episode 23: Aaron Donald discusses the impact that education, sports, and nutrition have on youth

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Episode 24: Todd Gurley discusses the importance of empowering and educating youth

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Episode 25: Samantha Smith discusses the importance of supporting Black-owned business and mental health

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Episode 26: Seth Curry and Callie Rivers discuss why impacting the community is so important for them

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Episode 27: DaniLeigh comes through to discuss the importance of supporting families of abuse

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Episode 28: DJ Khaled comes through to discuss his @WeTheBestFoundation and the work they do to help children

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To date, we have donated to the following organizations supported by our guests:

The Fund for the School District of Philadelphia
Boys’ & Girls’ Club of Phoenix
Pretty Brown Girl
Indigenous Basketball Australia
Public Schools of New York
PitCCh In
Brogdon Family Foundation
Jalen Rose Leadership Academy
Latino Community Foundation
RHJ Foundation
John Wall Family Foundation
La La Land Foundation
The Sloane Stephens Foundation

#FNLFam Stands Against Racial Injustice

This isn’t just about the words. This is our obligation to act. Our commitment to support our customers, employees and the communities we live in. Together, we are forming our plan for action and invite you to be a vital part of it. Fill out this form and help us take action.

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Proud to be a part of the @finishline family. #FNLFam ____ This isn’t just about the words. This is our obligation to act. Our commitment to support our customers, employees and the communities we live in. Together, we are forming our plan for action and invite you to be a vital part of it – link in our bio.

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