Black Athletes Who Give Back
Athletes who open their hearts to causes they support.
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Wade Davis Speaks Out for LGBT Youth - Here’s a look a 11 star athletes who support causes close to their hearts.—Britt MiddletonEX-NFL player Wade Davis, who recently revealed his homosexuality, now works with the Hetrick-Martin Institute in New York City, which provides career counseling and job readiness workshops for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender at-risk youth. The cornerback formerly played with the Tennessee Titans, Washington Redskins and the Seattle Seahawks. (Photo: NFL / AP)
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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, was given a new title recently when he was appointed as an American cultural ambassador by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. Abdul-Jabbar will represent the United States abroad in an effort to engage young people to help promote democracy. The basketball legend told MSNBC that he accepted the position because “I would like to see that my country is portrayed in accurate fashion.”(Photo: Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
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Ivory Latta - After both her father and grandmother were diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, WMBA star Ivory Latta vowed to do more to raise awareness about the disease, signing on as a national ambassador for the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation Champion’s Program in January 2011. “This experience drives me to help other families touched by the disease,” Latta has said about her involvement in the cause.(Photo: Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
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Muhammad Ali - Muhammad Ali’s name is one of the most recognized in sports, and his talent in the ring has earned him the moniker “The Greatest.” The prolific athlete has also thrown his name behind many great causes, including the Make a Wish Foundation and the Special Olympics. He is a founder of the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center in Phoenix, which raises awareness for Parkinson’s disease, the movement disorder the legendary boxer lives with every day. (Photo: Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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Carmelo Anthony - Husband, father and superstar forward of the New York Knicks Carmelo Anthony is also hailed for his big, giving heart. This year, the Giving Back Fund, a non-profit group, named ‘Melo as one of the 30 biggest celebrity givers. Anthony donated $837,200 to his alma mater, Syracuse University, and to the non-profit Living Classroom Foundation, according to the GBF.(Photo: Chris Trotman/Getty Images)
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Ndamukong Suh - Many called foul on Detriot Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh’s aggressive play on the field this season, but his head and heart were in the right place when he donated $2 million to the Nebraska University athletic department and another $600,000 to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Engineering to endow a scholarship, according to the Giving Back Fund. It is the largest single gift ever from a former football player, the GBF says. (Photo: AP Photo/Rick Osentoski, File)
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Magic Johnson - Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson shocked the world in 1991 when he revealed that he had contracted the HIV virus. Since then, Johnson has raised millions of dollars for HIV/AIDS research through his Magic Johnson Foundation. Last year, when the ex-basketball player commemorated 20 years living with HIV, the foundation launched a year-wide effort to raise awareness, including setting up free HIV testing sites around the country in November 2011. (Photo: Kevin Winter/NBCUniversal/Getty Images)
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Laila Ali - Laila Ali, the daughter of boxing great Muhammad Ali, has stepped out of her father’s shadow not just due to her own athletic prowess, but for her giving spirit. The female boxer, who boasts a 24-0 record and 21 knockouts, serves as the president of the Women's Sports Foundation, an organization that encourages self-improvement in women and girls through sports and exercise. (Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images)
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Venus Williams - Venus Williams, one half of tennis’s greatest sister act, has supported the Elton John AIDS Foundation and served as spokesperson of the Center’s for Disease Control and Prevention’s VERB campaign, which was geared toward increasing physical fitness in children age 9 to 13.(Photo: Julian Finney/Getty Images)
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Serena Williams - When Serena Williams isn’t dominating the tennis court or running her fashion company, Aneres, she’s likely working with the Serena Williams Foundation, which helps children whose lives have been affected by violent crimes. The charity also aims to provide educational opportunities to underprivileged youth.(Photo: Al Bello/Getty Images)
Photo By Photo:Beck Diefenbach REUTERS /BECK DIEFENBACH /LANDOV