Atlanta Hawks

As we wrap up Black History Month, we would like to recognize Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and the key role that they play in serving as institutions that provide an environment for students to explore identities, learn about various cultures and further their education.   Our organization is proud to support emerging talent through programs like our HBCU Pathways Program Internships, presented by Georgia Power Company, and the NBA HBCU Fellowship Program, where we welcome more than 10 summer interns across more than 100+ HBCUs nationwide. Each summer, we connect students with departments across our organization and provide them with hands-on experience that help them realize various roles within the sports and entertainment industry.   This year, we would like to spotlight our very own HBCU alum and former HBCU interns.   HBCU Spotlights Brandon Harness, J.M., Guest Experience Captain – Morehouse College Alum Bre'Anna B., Marketing Coordinator, College Park Skyhawks – Paine College Olivia Porter, Former HBCU Pathways Intern – Spelman College Student Bryce White, Former HBCU Pathways Intern – Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University Student   The HBCU Pathways Program Internships is part of our “True to You Workforce Empowerment” presented by Georgia Power platform. To Learn more about our “True to You Workforce Empowerment” programs presented by Georgia Power, visit: https://lnkd.in/eRqHwKyc

We are excited to host our first Next Gen Night presented by Novelis, our official aluminum recycling and sustainability partner, as the team takes on the Portland Trail Blazers this Sunday, March 1.   This family-focused night will celebrate youth culture and serve as a platform to engage, inspire and connect with the next generation of our fans. To commemorate the evening, Novelis will provide the first 5,000 in attendance with a complimentary black hat made from recycled materials, while supplies last.   “We are incredibly excited to host our first Next Gen Night in partnership with Novelis, as the next generation represents the future of our fans, our organization and our community,” said our very own Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Melissa M. Proctor. “This night celebrates their energy and creativity with interactive experiences and in-arena moments that are sure to create lasting memories.”   Throughout the evening, the arena will feature interactive and youth-centered activations across the concourse, including gaming stations, themed photo opportunities and immersive activities. As part of the pregame programming, our ATL Hawks Dancers will host a TikTok dance clinic for 20 select participants when doors open, providing kids the opportunity to learn choreography, create social content and engage directly with our entertainment staff.   Additionally, Novelis will spotlight its sustainability initiatives through an interactive recycling-themed shooting challenge connected to its aluminum recycling program, offering a hands-on experience that highlights environmental responsibility and teaches the importance of taking action to protect the planet.

During last night’s game presented by Emory Healthcare, our Atlanta Hawks Foundation, together with the Ressler Gertz Family Foundation, announced a $150,000 donation to the Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) reinforcing our shared commitment to increasing awareness of prostate cancer and supporting critical research initiatives.   “We are incredibly thankful for the continued generosity of the Atlanta Hawks and the Ressler Gertz Family Foundation,” said PCF President and CEO Gina Carithers. “This contribution will directly support research initiatives and bring us closer to our goal of eliminating prostate cancer.”   This season, our Atlanta Hawks Foundation pledged a donation of $75,000 to PCF, a leading organization dedicated to driving innovation in prevention, detection, and treatment of prostate cancer, while fostering a collaborative research community to accelerate life-saving advancements, including at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University.   The Ressler Gertz Family Foundation, the philanthropic foundation of our very own Principal Owners Tony Ressler and Jami Gertz, have matched our Hawks’s Foundation’s donation dollar-for-dollar, bringing this year’s total donation to $150,000. Since 2019, our collaboration with PCF has demonstrated ongoing success and impact, with this year’s donation increasing the partnership’s total to over one million dollars.   The donation aims to raise awareness about the importance of prostate cancer screening, particularly among Black men. According to the Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF), one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, but African American men are 76% more likely to develop the disease and more than twice as likely to die from it, with one in six Black men being diagnosed in their lifetime. However, when detected early, prostate cancer has a greater than 99% five-year survival rate.   Read the full press release: https://lnkd.in/ddZvEvnU

On Saturday, in partnership with State Farm, youth from participating Good Neighbor Clubs and their family members came together at the award-winning State Farm Arena for Good Neighbor Day, an initiative dedicated to strengthening individual bodies and minds to build a stronger community. This event marks the first-ever joint Good Neighbor Day celebration with Good Neighbor Club families across Atlanta.   “Good Neighbor Day is more than a one-day event. It is about equipping young people and their families with tools to care for their bodies, strengthen their minds and show up for one another in meaningful ways,” said our very own Vice President of Community Impact, Alexis Roe. “By bringing families together for physical activity, mental wellness and service to others, we are helping build habits and connections that extend beyond the arena and into the community.”   Students and their parents/guardians from Good Neighbor Clubs participated in a full day of programming centered on physical and mental wellness. The youth participated in basketball clinics led by Hawks Basketball Academy staff and personal development activities focused on positive self-talk and affirmations. Parents and guardians participated in workshops facilitated by The American Red Cross and Dr. Kensa Gunter on creating a safe supportive home environment and gained practical tools to model what it means to be a Good Neighbor in everyday life.   The day concluded with a group photo and a volunteer project for the Atlanta community where students wrote uplifting letters and decorated meal boxes for senior citizens to be delivered by Meals On Wheels Atlanta. Read the full press release: https://lnkd.in/gbPqr-dR

Yesterday, we hosted our third annual ‘She LEADS’ Women’s Empowerment Summit at the Emory Sports Medicine Complex, our official practice and training facility in Brookhaven, GA. The all-day program welcomed more than 50 early-career women, for immersive programming featuring; professional development, leadership growth and networking activities centered around nurturing, empowering, and honoring women leaders in our community.   “Now in it’s third year, She LEADS, continues to be a powerful platform for investing in women and the future of the next generation of leadership in Atlanta,” said our very own Executive Vice President and Chief People, Diversity, and Inclusion Officer Camye Mackey. “By creating intentional access to mentorship, resources and community, we are able to help women envision what is possible and take steps towards building successful careers.”   The summit served as a kick-off event for the ‘She LEADS’ initiative, designed to support the advancement and growth opportunities of the next generation of leaders in Atlanta. During the six-month program, participants will attend workshops, receive one-on-one mentoring and participate in a capstone project. The program culminates with a graduation ceremony celebrating participants’ growth and achievements, reinforcing the organization's commitment to advancing women into leadership roles across all industries.

We are incredibly proud to announce our Black History Month Game fueled by Georgia Natural Gas, on Feb. 26 as our team takes on the Washington Wizards. The night will celebrate Black history through a high-energy halftime tribute, in-arena storytelling, and community activations that reflect our two organizations’ ongoing commitment to honoring Black excellence and cultural influence. All fans in attendance will receive a long-sleeve t-shirt designed by local Black creative Charlie Palmer, courtesy of GNG.   At halftime, four-time GRAMMY Award-winning hip-hop icon and Atlanta native Killer Mike, and Atlanta’s legendary DJ Greg Street, host of The Greg Street Show on Audacy’s V103 The People’s Station, will honor and celebrate the historical evolution of Atlanta hip-hop.   “I’m incredibly proud to join the Hawks for their Black History Month game and celebrate the profound legacy of our hip-hop community,” said Killer Mike. “Atlanta is the heartbeat of Black excellence, and there’s no better place to honor our history and future than right here at center court with the fans.”   In addition, Georgia Natural Gas will showcase the winning video from the Morehouse College Cinema, Television, and Emerging Media Studies (CTEMS) film competition.   “At Georgia Natural Gas, we’re proud to celebrate the rich cultural history of our community,” said Aimee Henderson, Director of Mass Markets for Georgia Natural Gas. “Black culture plays an essential role in the story of Atlanta. That’s why we are so thrilled with this opportunity to elevate so many amazing current artists and support the institutions that are empowering the next generation.” Read the full press release: https://lnkd.in/eGCG8RQu

Last week, we officially launched our partnership with the Aviation Institute of Maintenance (AIM) at their Atlanta Metro Campus. To celebrate the kickoff, AIM hosted a community open house to showcase the aviation and welding programs that provide students with a direct, accelerated path into high-demand technical careers. As a widely recognized and accredited network of trade schools, AIM provides the hands-on training necessary to build thriving careers in aviation, avionics and industrial manufacturing.   Through this partnership, we are bringing visibility to technical education. By combining our reach with AIM’s hands-on training across 15 campuses nationwide, we seek to inspire the next generation of technicians who will support our airlines, aerospace and essential infrastructure.   Together with AIM, we are working to highlight accessible, in-demand career pathways that provide a powerful alternative to the traditional four-year college degree. We are proud to partner with an organization that is not only training talent for the global stage, but also creating a direct, lasting impact on the families and workforce of Atlanta.

Our Women of Color ERG recently enjoyed an exclusive behind-the-scenes experience at the historic Fox Theatre. The evening included networking with the Theatre’s staff and a full backstage tour, offering insight into the operations, history, and teamwork behind one of Atlanta’s most iconic entertainment venues. Moments like this highlight the power of connection, collaboration, and representation across our live entertainment community. Thank you to our co-leads Sharise W. and Sasha Kyles for creating such a memorable experience.   #WomenOfColorERG #LiveEntertainment 

Last week, alongside Moët Hennessy, we teamed up with the Marcus Graham Project (MGP), to provide 25 local Atlanta students and professionals the opportunity to participate in a best-in-class six-day Sports Marketing Workshop. The Marcus Graham Project’s iCR8™ programs exist to cultivate the next generation of multicultural talent across media, marketing, advertising, PR and content creation. “Hennessy is proud to collaborate with Marcus Graham Project alongside the Hawks to support the next generation of talent here in Atlanta, a city filled with culture and pride” said Antoine Varlet, Senior Vice President, Hennessy. “Atlanta continues to be a cultural mecca and we are honored to continue supporting the city and its extremely talented, emerging professionals as they embark on their career journeys.” This multi-day workshop provided a diverse group of emerging professionals with exposure and hands-on experience needed to further their career interest within advertising, media and marketing. In addition to career panels and networking opportunities with our staff and executives, participants were divided into teams and tasked with creating a 360-degree marketing campaign based on our real-life partnership with Moët Hennessy. The winning team received Hawks jerseys for their achievement, and one standout participant was named by Marcus Graham Project as the MVP to attend MGP’s iCR8 BootCamp this summer. Read the full press release: https://lnkd.in/gi2Gbjfv

Yesterday, in partnership with Novelis, we announced the winners of our second annual Novelis Community Recycling Challenge. Over a four-week period, more than 1,000 David T. Howard Middle School students collected recyclable materials, and the sixth graders, comprised of 433 students, were ultimately declared the winners. To celebrate everyone’s efforts, the school hosted a wrap party. “Congratulations to the sixth graders at David T. Howard Middle School on winning the second annual community recycling challenge. It’s always fulfilling to see students so excited and enthusiastic about recycling,” said our very own Senior Vice President of Facilities and Arena Operations, Geoffrey Stiles. “Novelis has been an incredible partner with this initiative because not only do they help teach the students about sustainability, they simplify it in ways that resonate with the children and make it fun.” The entire student body collected nearly 800 pounds of recyclables and more than 3,000 aluminum cans. The sixth graders secured the victory for the second year in a row by collecting a total of 428 pounds of recycling materials and 1,488 cans. The 2025 recycling challenge yielded 638 pounds of recyclables and 4,568 aluminum cans.   Read the full press release: https://lnkd.in/gMmBCeXD