📋 Tender Overview
The Indiana Fever and Anthem Inc. today announced a multi-year partnership aimed at addressing social injustice promoting health and well-being in under-resourced communities and empowering athletes to become advocates for change. The partnership with the Fever is one of four WNBA franchise partnerships launched by Anthem with New York Los Angeles and Atlanta rounding out the list.These commitments directly align with Anthems work to address long-standing racial and health inequities facing communities across the country and invite each team to partner with Anthem to make a measurable impact on health challenges in their respective cities. As part of the unique partnership element whenever the four teams meet during the WNBA season both teams will come together to host joint community activities that are part of Anthems priority areas such as food insecurity and mental health.The cornerstone of Anthems collaboration with the Indiana Fever is an innovative Athlete to Advocate professional executive certificate program developed and led by the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at IUPUI that is designed to equip professional athletes to become effective advocates for change. Focused on Sports Leadership Social Justice this partnership with the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy will provide athletes with new research-based knowledge and skills related to their leadership roles on and off the basketball court. The Athlete to Advocate program will prepare athletes to raise social awareness of the causes they support advance solutions and enhance their philanthropic activities and advocacy through their platform as professional athletes.As part of Anthems commitment to being both a national and local leader we are working in solidarity with our communities to challenge the status quo and address the factors driving disparities and inequities in our healthcare system and in society as a whole said Gail Boudreaux President and CEO of Anthem Inc. This partnership with the Indiana Fever and the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy focused on addressing social justice is just one more example of bringing our commitment to life.The Fever will continue to use our platform and our resources to find innovative and collaborative solutions that make life better for Hoosiers most in need and this partnership with Anthem and the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy is a terrific illustration of that. Chronic racial disparities and issues of equity are challenges that require bold strategy and the Fever remain committed alongside one of the nations most important companies and the worlds first school of philanthropy to not only address these gaps today but to prepare leaders to advocate for justice into the future Fever President Dr. Allison Barber said.The Athlete to Advocate five-week curriculum created and taught by the Mays Family Institute on Diverse Philanthropy and The Fund Raising School both are parts of the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy begins on February 22. It will equip athletes to be effective advocates donors volunteers and community leaders with a particular focus on issues of racial justice.Indiana Fever players and staff will participate in the initial cohort including Vice President of Basketball OperationsGeneral Manager Naismith Hall of Fame member and Indiana Civil Rights Commission ICRC 2021 Freedom Award recipient Tamika Catchings. The program goal is to expand the Athlete to Advocate certification opportunity to other WNBA teams and other professional athletes in late 2021.Women professional athletes have long been leaders at the intersection of philanthropy sports and social justice. We are excited to pilot this important work with Anthem and the Fever to help athletes make a positive impact in the community the nation and the world said Dr. Amir Pasic Dean Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at IUPUI. The Athlete to Advocate program is part of our schools ongoing commitment to collaborating with our partners in Central Indiana and around the world to support those who are working to achieve lasting change and make the world more just.Additionally the Fever and Anthem will partner on year-round community engagement efforts in neighborhoods throughout Indiana. As part of the monthly Anthem Assists Award the Fever and Anthem will recognize Hoosiers across the state who work to advance social justice and unify communities.
