Bob Iger and Willow Bay Bestow Michele Kang With the Sports Philanthropist of the Year ESPY
Ahead of tonight’s ESPY Awards, which will honor the greatest achievements in sports this year, ESPN recognized the off-field achievements in the sports world with the 11th annual ESPY Sports Humanitarian Awards.
“As part of the ESPYS, we put together a program that celebrated people on the field, the field of play, and what they did, and we realized there was so much more,” Kevin Martinez, vice president of ESPN Corporate Citizenship, told ABC7.
On hand for the festivities was Disney CEO Bob Iger, who praised the sports world for their efforts off the field.
“That’s what I love about this event. It’s time to pause and to recognize the great work that athletes and the teams that they play for, and the leagues, and of course the sponsors can have on their communities,” said Bob Iger, the CEO of the Walt Disney Company. “It’s really important. Athletes make a difference.”
Recognizing Those Who Made a Difference
Among this year’s nominees were the Los Angeles Kings and the Los Angeles Clippers, who jumped into action following the devastating California wildfires.
Photo: ABC News
“It’s remarkable what these athletes do, and I think about it in terms of our Angel City players – how much time they spend in the community, how much time they spend doing stuff for other folks that means so much to them,” said Willow Bay, Bob Iger’s wife and the controlling owner of Angel City FC.
Iger Pays Tribute to Michele Kang
The highlight of the ESPY Sports Humanitarian Awards came when Iger and Bay presented the Sports Philanthropist of the Year Award to Michele Kang.
Photo: LinkedIn
Kang is the founder of Kynisca Sports International, an organization dedicated to advancing women’s sports. Following the U.S. women’s rugby team’s bronze medal win at the 2024 Paris Olympics, the foundation donated $1 million to the program. They have also promised $4 million to help the team at the 2028 Olympics.
“Women’s sports have been sort of forgotten. It’s the best kept secret for a long time. There’s certainly a lot of talent, but the investment has not kept up,” Kang said. “This is about giving equal opportunity for all the young girls and young women.”
After the presentation, Bob Iger took to social media to congratulate Kang, calling her a “true pioneer in women’s sports.”
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