ESPN has announced the nominees and honorees for the 12th annual Sports Humanitarian Awards, which celebrate athletes, teams, leagues, and members of the sports industry who use the power of sport to make a positive impact on society. The awards, hosted by SportsCenter anchor Christine Williamson, will take place Tuesday, July 14 at Gotham Hall in Midtown Manhattan, the evening before the ESPYS, as detailed by the ESPN Press Room.
This Year’s Honorees And Finalists
Philanthropist Laurie Tisch will receive the Sports Philanthropist of the Year Award for her work through the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund, including its recently launched $10 million Play to Thrive initiative expanding sports access for girls and underserved youth. Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie will receive the Stuart Scott ENSPIRE Award for his work advancing autism research and inclusion. The Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award finalists are Stephen Curry, Damar Hamlin, and Adam Thielen, while the Sports Humanitarian Team of the Year finalists are the Baltimore Ravens, Charlotte Hornets, Cleveland Browns, and Seattle Storm. American Express, Colgate-Palmolive, and Jersey Mike’s earned nominations for the Corporate Community Impact Award.
A Broad Industry Effort
Demonstrating an industry-wide commitment, sponsors this year include the NFL, NBA, WNBA, MLB, USTA, WWE/TKO, NHL, Fanatics, Under Armour, and Salesforce. “For over a decade, the Sports Humanitarian Awards have been a key pillar of ESPN’s commitment to the teams and people who use the power of sports to drive meaningful changes in the world,” said Kevin Martinez, Vice President of ESPN Corporate Citizenship.
Part Of A Bigger Cause
Proceeds from the Sports Humanitarian Awards and the ESPYS support pediatric cancer research at the V Foundation. The honorees will be featured in ESPN studio programming and during the 2026 ESPYS, which air live Wednesday, July 15 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and stream on the ESPN App from the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center. It is another example of the Disney-owned network leveraging its platform for good. For more on how ESPN is marking the week, see our coverage of the ESPYS Week Charity Auction benefiting the V Foundation.
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