The new partnership will strengthen Athletes for Hope’s volunteer programming at colleges and universities in Washington D.C. and Los Angeles. Additionally, Athletes for Hope and Thrivent will launch a financial literacy series for athletes this fall.
Athletes for Hope (AFH), a nationally recognized nonprofit that empowers athletes to lead with purpose and create meaningful change, has partnered with Thrivent, a Fortune 500 financial services company that puts generosity at the heart of saving and investing. Together, the two brands will reach new, multigenerational student athletes by providing culturally relevant, purpose-driven engagement that includes community service, leadership development and philanthropic opportunities.
“We are incredibly grateful to partner with Thrivent, whose dedication to community service and giving back is truly unmatched,” said Jason Belinkie, CEO of Athletes for Hope. “Thrivent doesn’t just talk about making an impact—they consistently demonstrate it through their actions. Their support will allow us to strengthen AFH University in two key cities, empowering the next generation of athletes through service and leadership.”
“Thrivent has a legacy of partnering with organizations to deliver meaningful impact,” said Carolyn Sakstrup, EVP and chief growth and generosity officer at Thrivent. “Athletes for Hope’s mission is to empower athletes to be tomorrow’s leaders and give back, which fits perfectly with Thrivent’s purpose to empower lives of service and faith. We look forward to building programs together that improve financial literacy and inspire the next generation to selflessly volunteer and make a difference in their communities.”
In addition to offering volunteer programming and understanding that financial literacy is a key part of a student athlete’s overall well-being, AFH and Thrivent will launch a financial webinar series this fall that’s tailored specifically for athletes. The webinar will focus on equipping them with the knowledge and tools to make informed financial decisions throughout their life.
The partnership is focused on leveraging the voice and influence of student-athletes through AFH University, particularly those connected to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) in Washington D.C and Los Angeles. It’s already making an impact:
- In April, Thrivent and AFH hosted a meal-packing event at American University to benefit Shepherd’s Table, a nonprofit that addresses food insecurity and homelessness. During the event, more than 70 student athletes gathered alongside Thrivent and AFH to pack over 2,100 sandwiches and 400 trail mix bags for people in need.
- AFH’s third annual Putt for Passion Golf Tournament on May 5 helped drive meaningful change by supporting AFH’s Whole Being Athlete and CHAMPS, a mental health program that breaks barriers around mental health in sports and beyond. Participants, which included notable athletes like Vernon Davis and John Harkes, raised $140,000 to support the nonprofit.
- Additionally, starting this fall, Thrivent will be the presenting partner of the AFH University Awards, recognizing student-athletes who are making a difference in their respective communities. This will include multiple back-to-school volunteer events supporting student athletes.
For more information about Athletes for Hope, visit www.athletesforhope.org. To learn more about Thrivent, visit www.thrivent.com.
About Athletes for Hope
Founded in 2006 by Muhammad Ali, Andre Agassi, Mia Hamm, and nine other elite athletes, Athletes for Hope (AFH) is a national nonprofit that empowers athletes to engage with their communities. In 2024, AFH launched the Athlete Leadership Council featuring Stephen Curry, Katie Ledecky, Nathan Chen, and Elena Delle Donne to carry forward the Founders’ legacy. Over the past 18 years, AFH has educated more than 12,000 athletes through its Causeway workshops and connected them with underserved schools and community organizations. AFH’s core programs promote mental health, physical activity, and leadership, positively impacting millions of lives worldwide. Through AFH University, student-athletes engage in leadership development, team-based service, and philanthropic education, fostering a culture of giving back.
About Thrivent
Thrivent is a Fortune 500 financial services company that helps build, grow and protect financial well-being through purpose-driven advice, investments, insurance, banking and generosity programs. Thrivent serves more than 2.4 million clients through thousands of financial advisors across the country and has more than $193 billion in assets under management/advisement (as of 12/31/24). Thrivent carries strong financial ratings from independent rating agencies – including AM Best, Moody’s and S&P Global Ratings – which demonstrate the company’s financial strength, stability and ability to pay claims. Ratings don’t apply to investment product performance and more information can be found on each rating agency’s website. For more information about Thrivent, visit Thrivent.com or find us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.