The National Football League’s social justice initiative has continued to inspire change in underserved communities, including a $250 million commitment to bring awareness, dialogue, and a renewed direction to the conversation of racial and social inequality.

Since 2017, teams have contributed $44 million from sources including social justice grants approved by the league’s players and owner’s workgroup; the NFL Foundation matching grants; an ongoing financial commitment to the Player’s Coalition; and as part of 32 teams’ social justice matching funds.

“What inspired (the NFL) is the players lending their voices, their work, to issues of social injustice and racial injustice,” stated Anna Isaacson, the NFL’s senior vice president of social responsibility and community relations.

Around 2016 and 2017, Colin Kaepernick and other players raised their voices and protested and started a movement which then inspired the NFL and our ownership to launch our Social Justice Initiatives.”

As a result of those efforts, continued discussions and dialogue, Isaacson said the NFL prioritized four key areas: education, economic advancement, criminal justice reform, and community and police relations.