Stephen Curry was presented the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award at the 12th annual Sports Humanitarian Awards in New York, recognised for his foundation’s efforts to support youth development in Oakland.
From the Bay to Gotham: sport and service intersect
The Golden State Warriors star accepted the honour at Gotham Hall as part of a night that celebrated athletes, teams and organisations using sport to advance social good. The awards night, which occurs during ESPYS week, will be featured across ESPN programming and will be shown during the 2026 ESPYS telecast in July.
Curry co-founded the Eat. Learn. Play Foundation in 2019 with his wife, Ayesha Curry. The organisation focuses on programming and services aimed at supporting children and families in Oakland, the city that the award recipient cited as central to his upbringing and mission.
"Oakland gave us so much love, support and energy, and this is how we are able to continue to get back to the community that has wrapped its arms around us from the very beginning back in 2009. We’re just excited to meet kids where they already are every single day, because if you invest in a child, you’re investing in everything that’s possible for their future."
The presentation was made by Lonnie Ali, president and CEO of the Muhammad Ali Center, and the award segment included presenters Jason and Kylie Kelce. Proceeds from the Sports Humanitarian Awards, along with the 2026 ESPYS, will support the V Foundation for Cancer Research.
Honours, format and reach
The Sports Humanitarian Awards hand out six principal honours recognising philanthropy and public service across the sports industry. The night is produced in partnership with ESPN and forms part of the broader ESPYS programming slate, which is scheduled to air live on ABC and stream on the ESPN App. Following the live broadcast, the show will also be available on Disney+, Hulu and video-on-demand platforms.
- Award received: Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award
- Foundation: Eat. Learn. Play, co-founded 2019
- Event: 12th annual Sports Humanitarian Awards, Gotham Hall, New York
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Recipient | Stephen Curry |
| Foundation focus | Youth development in Oakland |
| Beneficiary of proceeds | V Foundation for Cancer Research |
The award highlights the growing expectation that high-profile athletes leverage platform and resources for community impact. For Curry, a four-time NBA champion and two-time league MVP, the honour adds a major philanthropic accolade to a career that already includes significant public attention on and off the court.
With the awards integrated into the ESPYS week lineup, the recognition provides a national stage for the foundation’s work and helps channel fundraising and awareness toward charitable partners. The appearance also reinforces how sport-focused philanthropy is packaged within mainstream sports media and entertainment events.
As media coverage and broadcast exposure amplify the foundation’s message, the award may translate to increased visibility for Eat. Learn. Play initiatives in Oakland. For a player whose professional achievements have already cemented him in basketball conversation, the humanitarian award underscores a parallel legacy: investment in community opportunity and youth development.
Presented within a televised entertainment framework and tied to established charitable beneficiaries, this kind of recognition also serves as a model for how athlete-led foundations can harness celebrity to support wider social causes.
