While pro-athletes have always used their high profile to raise awareness for social injustices (i.e. Muhammad Ali, Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jim Brown, Arthur Ashe and Billie Jean King), we are witnessing the dawn of a new day. A day in which the league or team’s bottom line will directly be impacted by their social purpose. Americans demand more from our favorite coffee brand than to just sell us a great cup of coffee. We want them to be environmentally, fiscally and socially-responsible. We want them to create actual change in our communities. We expect nothing less from our favorite sports teams. But, what does that actually mean? Can standing up for a cause really jeopardize fan support for their favorite athlete or team?
At Catalist, we love finding answers…ones that will help us all do a little more for each other. At the end of 2018, we conducted a survey of over 1,000 Americans to determine whether Sports and Social Good should co-exist.
