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Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts Joins Athletes for Hope Athlete Leadership Council

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Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts Joins Athletes for Hope Athlete Leadership Council

Posted: Updated: by Jasmine Moore

Hurts joins fellow sports icons Stephen Curry, Katie Ledecky, Nathan Chen, Elena Delle Donne, Gabby Thomas and Ezra Frech on AFH’s Athlete Leadership Council

Athletes for Hope (AFH) is officially adding a quarterback to its roster, announcing that Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts has joined its Athlete Leadership Council. Hurts joins an elite coalition of global sports icons that include Stephen Curry, Katie Ledecky, Nathan Chen, Elena Delle Donne, Gabby Thomas and Ezra Frech on the Council, spearheading AFH’s mission to educate and empower athletes of all ages to make a lasting positive impact in their communities. Athletes for Hope is the largest athlete-led sports philanthropy nonprofit in the United States.

While most know Jalen Hurts as a championship-winning quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles, those who have followed his journey know that his identity has always been anchored in integrity, service, and strength. In his role with AFH, Hurts will collaborate with the organization to amplify youth-focused philanthropic initiatives, mentor emerging student-athletes, and help steer the direction of AFH’s community programs.

From his national championship college days to leading the Eagles to two Super Bowl appearances, Hurts has consistently used his platform to elevate others. Off the field, his dedication to youth empowerment shines through the Jalen Hurts Foundation, his popular Keep It Cool initiative, and his inspiring children’s book, Better Than a Touchdown, which teaches lessons of resilience, teamwork, and self-belief.

Jalen’s addition to the Athlete Leadership Council further strengthens AFH’s focus on uplifting underserved youth through its flagship CHAMPS Program which reaches more than 400,000 elementary school children on a monthly basis to promote mental well-being, physical activity and leadership.

“I strive to help young people see the value in their uniqueness and open their eyes to opportunities they didn’t even know were possible,” said Jalen Hurts. “Joining the Athletes for Hope Athlete Leadership Council gives me a chance to deepen that mission alongside an incredible group of leaders who believe in the power of sport to make a lasting positive impact on the next generation. Together, we can show young people what it looks like to lead with purpose and help them realize just how much they can achieve.”

Hurts will work to carry forward the legacy of AFH’s founding athletes, such as Muhammad Ali, Mia Hamm, Warrick Dunn, and Jackie Joyner-Kersee by inspiring the next generation of athletes to serve.

“Jalen is so much more than a star quarterback. The way he carries himself, with quiet confidence and a genuine passion for empowering people, sets a powerful example that anyone can look up to,” said Jason Belinkie, CEO of Athletes for Hope. “We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Jalen to the Athlete Leadership Council as we work together to show athletes everywhere what’s possible when using their platforms for good.”

To learn more about Athletes for Hope and the Athlete Leadership Council, please visit athletesforhope.org.

About Athletes for Hope

Founded in 2006 by Muhammad Ali, Mia Hamm, Andre Agassi, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Alonzo Mourning, Jeff Gordon, Warrick Dunn, and 5 other legendary athletes. AFH educates, encourages, and empowers professional, Olympic, Paralympic, college, and high school athletes to find their philanthropic passions and volunteer with community organizations and schools across the U.S. AFH is now led by the next generation of athlete leaders, including Stephen Curry, Katie Ledecky, Nathan Chen, Elena Delle Donne, Gabby Thomas and Ezra Frech, and has become the largest athlete-led sports non-profit in the U.S. with thousands of athlete members. Our core programs focus on underserved youth physical activity, leadersh

AFH Athlete Leadership Council Member Elena Delle Donne Is Still Leading the Way

Posted: Updated: by Jasmine Moore

Some athletes retire and fade from the conversation. Elena Delle Donne is not one of them.

The two-time MVP, 2019 WNBA Champion, Olympic gold medalist, and Hall of Fame Class of 2026 returned to the court at WNBA All-Star Weekend in Chicago this July — and walked away a Shooting Stars Champion alongside Shakira Austin and high school star Jezelle “GG” Banks. But for Elena, the moment was never really about the trophy.

“To be able to lead the next generation and see our next superstars rising,” Delle Donne said, “it’s gonna be really cool when she’s in this down the road when she’s a WNBA All-Star.”

That’s Elena Delle Donne in a nutshell. Always thinking about who comes next.

Fighting Through Everything

Elena’s journey to this moment wasn’t easy. Lyme disease and back injuries limited her to just 241 games over 10 seasons and forced her to retire at 33 — far earlier than anyone who watched her play would have expected. But the adversity never dimmed her light or her commitment to the game and the people who play it.

“You just keep your head down, keep working and trust in the process,” she said. “I’m so proud of where this league is and where it will continue to go.”

Those aren’t the words of someone who showed up, collected accolades, and left. They’re the words of someone who invested in something bigger than herself — and meant it.

Paving the Way for Women in Sport

When Elena entered the WNBA in 2013, the league looked nothing like it does today. Teams were averaging fewer than 6,000 fans a night. There was no talk of expansion. Players were told the league might fold if they didn’t do everything they could to keep it alive.

Elena made the choice to stay stateside, build her marketability, and fight for the league’s future when it wasn’t guaranteed. She sacrificed international money to invest in a league she believed in — and this All-Star Weekend, with a sold-out United Center and nine teams averaging 10,000 fans a night, the results of that investment are impossible to ignore.

“We were told you need to do this or this league is folding,” Delle Donne said. “I’m thrilled that conversation is over with and everybody gets to see how incredible this game is and where it’s gonna go.”

The AFH Way

At Athletes for Hope, we talk about platform — what it means to have one, and what it means to use it well. Elena Delle Donne has spent her entire career doing exactly that. On the court, she played through pain and pushed herself to the limit. Off it, she’s advocated for Lyme disease awareness, partnered with Special Olympics, and modeled what it looks like to lead with purpose, humility, and a genuine investment in the people around you.

That’s why she’s a member of the AFH Athlete Leadership Council. And that’s why moments like this one matter — not just as a sports story, but as a reminder of everything this organization was built for.

Congratulations, Elena. The next generation is watching — and they couldn’t have a better example to follow.

Congratulate Elena on Instagram 🏆

Learn more about the AFH Athlete Leadership Council at athletesforhope.org.