Best Community Involvement, Philanthropy or Partnership

PSL stands out for its commitment to advocacy and public policy as a central part of its mission, using sport as a platform to advance equity across the Pittsburgh region. PSL defines equity as fair access, treatment, and rights under the law and within society, and that principle is embedded throughout its programming, partnerships, and organizational priorities. Its advocacy agenda was developed collaboratively with members, partners, staff, board leadership, and community stakeholders, ensuring it reflects a broad range of voices and lived experiences. Rather than treating community involvement as a side initiative, PSL has made it central to how the organization operates, demonstrating how a social sports club can move beyond the field to drive awareness, inclusion, and meaningful local impact.

Their non-profit, Keep Playing Kids, is another fantastic example of a social sports organization giving back and helping the next generation of players, most of whom do not have the means to play sports on their own.  I have only seen the website and IG page, so don't have any direct photos to share, however impressed and inspired by what I see online.

Lot's of players told us they didn't need a shirt anymore, so we allowed players to opt out of a shirt. After each season we then took how many opted out of a shirt and donated $5 to a charity of our choice. We donated $3,140 over the course of the year.

Holiday weeks are usually a down time or "off times" for leagues. Club Sport puts that time to use by running a series of Volleyball Tournaments for charity. 51 teams that played across 4 tournaments in various divisions over Thanksgiving week 2025 that helped raise $ and food donations for St. Vincent De Paul charities! Entry fees was either a food item or $10 donation. All in all we had over 10 large boxes of food donated along with $1000 in cash that we used to purchase requested items from and deliver to their downtown St. Pete locations. The Thanksgiving timeframe is the when all the food shelters bulk up for the holiday season so by playing and donating you ensure that those less fortunate can have a wonderful holiday season and not worry about going hungry!

Cornhole and Crawfish - FXA Sports partnered with the V3Gate Foundation to host Cornhole & Crawfish, a community-driven fundraising event that brought together professionals from across the technology sector, including teams from companies such as Dell and IBM. The double-elimination cornhole tournament featured teams of 2–4 players competing in a high-energy, social environment.

Beyond the competition, attendees enjoyed authentic crawfish boils from a New Orleans based vendor, live music from the brewery, and a silent auction featuring high-value items ranging from autographed hockey jerseys to weekend vacation packages.

All proceeds from the event were donated to veteran relief organizations, including Tunnel to Towers, demonstrating FXA’s commitment to using sport and recreation as a platform for meaningful community impact.

Trevor Hall took over running the Guns N Hoses Charity Boxing event for the last 4 years. We have raised over 200k in the last 4 years, and over 2 millions over the 26 years if the event for the Police Athletic League, muscular dystrophy, and other local charities.

National VFW Fundraising Cornhole Tournament - This was the 3rd Annual VFW National Convention Cornhole Tournament, presented by USAA and Humana, which took place on August 10th & August 11th, 2025. With an entry fee of $50 per team and several sponsorship opportunities, the event raised funds for the VFW's National Veterans Service program, combining spirited competition with a meaningful cause to support veterans nationwide.

Veterans United Gaming - The idea of this event was to help Veterans United create a social gaming tournament to connect with the veteran and gaming community, as well as raise funds for the VFW

The Dallas Sport and Social Club (DSSC) was a proud partner of Klyde Warren Park with the Spike & Sip Volleyball series at Dallas's premier dowtown park location. The monthly, free events, allowed Dallasites a chence to enjoy playing volleyball in an incredible urban setting, on fields that are otherwise not accessible for athletics. Spike & Sip became a favorite for volleyball players and active adults looking to enjoy one of Dallas's premier public resources in an initiative important to the City.

As a small-market club with limited staff, large national sponsorships are difficult to secure and can be a challenge to activate meaningfully. What has worked for us is partnering with local businesses that are deeply embedded in our community and genuinely aligned with our values. One of the best examples of this is our partnership with Optimize Hoboken.

While the sponsorship includes a flat fee and a commission for referrals, the true value of this partnership goes far beyond revenue. Optimize provides on-site support at gyms/fields several times each season, stretching, massaging, and treating players to help prevent injuries before they happen. When injuries do occur, they are often able to treat players immediately or guide them on the appropriate next steps.

When Optimize isn’t on site, our players still have access to a dedicated hotline, allowing them to speak directly with a doctor at any time. They can quickly schedule consultations, X-rays, or MRIs; often helping players avoid unnecessary and costly trips to the emergency room.

What truly sets Optimize apart is how closely their mission aligns with ours. Their office feels less like a traditional medical practice and more like a professional training room, filled with athletes coming and going. Their goal is to keep their patients active, healthy, and playing. Whether it’s an ankle sprain, pulled muscle, or chronic back issue, they regularly help players return to the field faster and stay pain-free. Over the years, we’ve lost countless players to lingering injuries; this partnership directly helps solve that problem.

Beyond health and performance, Optimize is deeply committed to building community. A visit to their office almost always leads to running into familiar faces; athletes, business owners, and local social media influencers alike. For our organization, it’s been an unexpected but powerful way to strengthen local relationships and expand our network.

This partnership is a clear example of how the right local sponsor can create real, lasting value not just for our club, but for every participant involved.

Houston Sports and Social demonstrated its commitment to philanthropy by donating over $20,000 to more than 25 local and national organizations. This achievement was made possible through the collective efforts of our passionate player community and generous sponsors, including Goodman Financial, DICK’S Sporting Goods, One Energy Solutions, and Tito’s Handmade Vodka. By leveraging sports as a platform for connection and giving, we strive to make a lasting impact in the communities we serve.