Philanthropist

A history-making cultural icon, ballet dancer Misty Copeland shares her inspiring life journey—from living in a motel room with her five siblings to becoming the first Black principal dancer at the prestigious American Ballet Theatre in the company’s 75-year history. 

<p>Considered the NFL’s greatest undrafted player of all time, Kurt Warner and his incredible life story inspired the major motion picture <em>American Underdog</em>.</p><p>Kurt Warner, though undrafted, had an extraordinary NFL career. He led the St. Louis Rams to victory and was named Super Bowl MVP, among many other honors. And he’s paid his success forward, tenfold—founding both a nonprofit charity and a living community for young adults with disabilities, inspired by his son, Zachary.

<p>Drawing from his remarkable career as one of the most successful NBA coaches and players of all time, Steve Kerr provides lessons in leadership, overcoming adversity, and the importance of giving back.</p><p>Few professional coaches have had a career—or a life—as inspiring as Steve Kerr’s. Currently head coach of the Golden State Warriors and USA Basketball Men’s National Team, he is a nine-time NBA champion, having won five titles as a player and four as a head coach.

Drew Brees shares insights from his illustrious career and inspires with remarks on family, faith and philanthropy.

A two-time Heisman finalist, Brees led the Purdue Boilermakers to a Big Ten Championship and Rose Bowl appearance during the 2000 season. In that same year, he won the Maxwell Award as the nation's top collegiate player as well as being named Academic All-American Player of the Year. In 2022, Brees returned to Purdue as an interim assistant coach.

Sports broadcaster, author, philanthropist, and Emmy Award winner--not to mention one of the greatest Major League Baseball catcher in history--Johnny Bench is a symbol of winning through hard work and teamwork. He signed with the Cincinnati Reds in the 1965 draft and made the major league roster the next year. However, Bench is much more than just a ballplayer. This MVP continues to use his celebrity status to reach out to his community.

<p>Sheila Johnson is an entrepreneur and philanthropist whose accomplishments span the arenas of hospitality, sports, entertainment, the arts, education and humanitarian causes.</p>

<p>As CEO of Salamander Hospitality LLC, a company she founded in 2005, she oversees a growing portfolio of luxury properties including Woodlands Inn in Summerville, South Carolina, Innisbrook, a 72-hole Golf & Spa Resort in Innisbrook, Florida, and the much-anticipated Salamander Resort & Spa, currently being constructed in Middleburg, Virginia.</p>

<p>A studio analyst for CBS Sports&#39; <i>The NFL Today</i>, Boomer Esiason is one of the most respected former NFL greats-turned commentators working today.</p>

<p>Best known as a quarterback of the Cincinnati Bengals, New York Jets, and Arizona Cardinals, Boomer Esiason is one of the most successful QBs of his generation. In 1986, he earned his first Pro Bowl berth as the leader of the Bengals and their top offense. In 1988, he was named the NFL MVP.</p>

<p>Earvin "Magic" Johnson has become one of the most powerful African-American businessmen in the world. He is Major League Baseball owner, an NBA legend, a two-time Hall of Famer, an entrepreneur, philanthropist and popular keynote speaker.

<p>Steve Wozniak is best known as the co-founder of Apple Computer, which helped shape the personal computer industry with the popular Macintosh. An inductee to the National Inventors Hall of Fame, he is constantly innovating, teaching the lessons of Apple to show that evolution can be achieved from the ground up.