Positive Sports Stories from Minnesota’s Teams, Athletes, Coaches and Broadcasters
In Minnesota, sports unite us. They impact us. They inspire us. And during these challenging times, sports are teaching us the importance of coming together as a community so that one day again soon Minnesotans can pack our stadiums to cheer on our favorite teams. At Sports Minneapolis, we're dedicated to bringing sporting events to the Minneapolis area for the benefit of our community. Now, with competition on the fields, courts and ice on hold, we want to illuminate the many positive stories that are occurring every day in the Minnesota sports world. From charitable donations to inspiring words, Minnesota's teams, athletes, coaches and broadcasters are providing uplifting news to achieve a common goal. Following are just some of those stories.
General News
- With votes and voices, Minnesota pro athletes answering call to action
- Twin Cities sports leaders join forces to land more big events
- Minneapolis ranks #5 on Forbes’ list of America’s Best Sports Cities
- 'Change Starts With Me' initiative partners pro athletes, UNRL clothing to restore communities
- Sports community embraces 9-year-old girl's bracelet drive, raising $20K for Minneapolis communities
- Minnesota athletes, coaches turn out to fill void in ravaged south Minneapolis neighborhood
- Minneapolis to host 2021 National Collegiate Volleyball Federation Championships
Minnesota Vikings
- Thielen Foundation to provide money, equipment to help three organizations hit hard by COVID-19, riot damage
- Vikings announce social justice initiatives as part of $5 million commitment
- C.J. Ham teams up with Minnesota girls selling bracelets to help Minneapolis neighborhoods
- Virtual event helps Raise the Barr deliver real support
- Jefferson & Udoh donations help during COVID-19 pandemic
- Vikings unveil social justice plan, includes a scholarship in Floyd's name
- Vikings connect with friendship bracelet effort for social justice
Minnesota Twins
- Twins unveil plans for charter to advance social equity
- Twins slugger Nelson Cruz wins ESPY award for sports humanitarianism
- Pohlad family announces $25 million commitment to racial justice in the Twin Cities
- Twins unveil Community Resource Guide
- Twins, partners to convert 2019 Homer Hankies into cotton face masks for frontline workers
- Twins partner with schools and teachers to provide Learning Through Baseball
- Marwin Gonzalez joins 50 MLB players in Home Plate Project to address childhood hunger due to COVID-19 pandemic
Minnesota Timberwolves
- Wolves strive to drive the vote, lift the community
- Karl-Anthony Towns joins National Basketball Social Justice Coalition Board
- Wolves strive to drive the vote, lift the community
- Timberwolves launch new voter registration initiatives
- Timbervolves launch social justice content series "Voices"
- Timberwolves doctor playing key role in COVID-fighting saliva test
- Timberwolves partner with RISE to create cross-sector programming in the fight for racial equality and social justice
- Timberwolves putting words into action: 'We need to be bold right now'
Minnesota Lynx
- Lynx strive to drive the vote, lift the community
- Lynx launch new voter registration initiatives
- Lynx launch social justice content series "Voices"
- Lynx to partner with Star Tribune for criminal justice reform essay contest
- Lynx partner with RISE to create cross-sector programming in the fight for racial equality and social justice
- Lynx announce "Team Up for Change" partnership
- Lynx join forces with the Minneapolis Foundation to pursue justice, equity and healing
Minnesota Wild
- Wild's Matt Dumba wins King Clancy Memorial Trophy
- Wild, Leipold family each donate $25,000 to We Love St. Paul/Midway Fund
- Wild deliver 100 teddy bears to young fans at Children's Hospital to celebrate team's return to ice
- A visit to Lake Street with Matt Dumba
- Wild, NHL donate $100,000 to Matt Dumba's fundraiser to help rebuild Lake Street
- Matt Dumba launches fundraiser for Lake Street Council
- Matt Dumba teams up with fellow hockey players to eradicate racism
Minnesota United FC
- Minnesota United players make a social justice push
- Huge demand for food giveaway at Allianz Field shows community's need
- MNUFC hosts benefit livestream on the pitch at Allianz Field
- Resource Center: Healing the MNUFC community
- MNUFC & Allina Health to host second blood drive at Allianz Field
- Minnesota United players score big with surprise visits to youth soccer Zoom sessions
- MNUFC & Allianz Life donate to Neighbors United Funding Collaborative
University of Minnesota
- Minnesota Proud: Gophers fighting COVID-19
- Gophers contribute to "United Are We" community drive
- Gopher star using platform for hope in crisis
- Former college athletes now on teams fighting COVID-19 pandemic
- "Horse" competition between ex-Gophers stars Rachel Banham and Andre Hollins helps Be the Match
- Checking in with Gophers in the medical field
- Gophers rower making COVID-19 masks for hospitals with athletic career over
High School Sports
- High school athletes running, walking, biking to help Lake Street businesses rebound
- High school athlete-driven fundraiser honors George Floyd and supports Lake Street rebuild
- A young runner goes the distance for others
- Minnesota high schools honor Class of 2020 with #BeTheLightMN tribute
- High schools turn on the lights to light up everyone's lives
- #BeTheLightMN brings schools, students, communities together
