Los Angeles, Calif. (October 6, 2026) - The Social Impact Fund hosted the inaugural Social Impact Summit x Sport, Presented by the Social Impact Fund and Powered by Nike, in partnership with ESPN. Held at the newly-opened Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, the first-ever event celebrated how sport can serve as a meaningful impact for change through conversations featuring ESPN's Stan Verrett, Nike's Vanessa Garcia-Brito, Olympic Gold Medalist and Running Pioneer Joan Benoit Samuelson, Azzi Fudd, Baron Davis, Derek Fisher, Scout Bassett, and more.
The evening's focus on coaches, access and creating positive experiences for young athletes also reflected the mission of ESPN's Take Back Sports, the company's youth sports initiative focused on helping get and keep kids in the game and connecting more young people to the benefits of sports.
The evening kicked off with a fireside chat between Vanessa Garcia-Brito, Chief Impact Officer at Nike and Olympic gold medalist Joan Benoit-Samuelson, who discussed Benoit-Samuelson's Olympic experience, how she broke barriers in the running world and the opportunities ahead with the Olympic and Paralympic Games returning to Los Angeles in 2028.
The conversation took place across the street from the legendary Los Angeles Coliseum, where Benoit-Samuelson won the first-ever Olympic women's marathon gold medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Games, setting a historic precedent for women's long-distance running. With the event taking place on National Coaches Day, Garcia-Brito also highlighted the important role coaches play in creating positive and inclusive experiences for athletes.
ESPN SportsCenter anchor Stan Verrett then moderated "The Power of Coaching" conversation featuring Dallas Wings star Azzi Fudd, Coaching Peace founder Diana Cutina and San Diego Wave assistant coach Becki Tweed.
The trio discussed the importance of strong coaches and mentors within youth sports and the importance of diversity in the space.
"We [women] need more coaches on the sideline, we need more assistant coaches, but we also need more opportunity, more grace," said Tweed. "You need to be allowed to fail and find the people that believe in you."
The conversation directly connected to ESPN's Take Back Sports initiative and its focus on improving the youth sports experience so more kids have the opportunity - and desire - to continue playing. Coaches can play a critical role in that experience, helping young athletes build confidence, develop important life skills and foster a lifelong connection to sports.
Next, two-time NBA champion Baron Davis, Paralympian Scout Bassett, and General Manager, LA Recreation and Parks Jimmy Kim took the stage for the "Creating the Future of Youth Sport" panel moderated by five-time World Cup and four-time Olympic athlete Ali Riley.
The panelists reflected on their personal experiences in youth sports and the impact their experiences had on them as they entered their adult lives.
Davis touched on the influence his coaches had on him at an early age.
"Through my earlier coaches [at AAU and in high school] I really learned to respect people, meet people where they were, but also have such a respect for who I am and where I come from, and what my story, right, that it always led me to a place where I can learn. And so, you know, learning is my journey and my discovery."
To close out the evening, five-time NBA champion Derek Fisher presented the LA84 Foundation with the Excellence in Sport Impact Award, honoring their ongoing commitment to transforming Los Angeles communities through youth sports. LA84 President Foundation Renata Simril, who Fisher said "has the heart of a leader who has been invested in improving Los Angeles for future generations," accepted the award on behalf of the organization. Simril reflected on experiencing the 1984 Olympic Games as a young girl living in Carson, Calif., and the opportunity to continue creating a lasting sports legacy for future generations.
The inaugural Social Impact Fund x Sport celebrated the intersection of sport and social impact while bringing together voices from across the sports community to help envision the future of youth sports.
Through Take Back Sports, ESPN is working to help more kids access and remain in sports while elevating the people, organizations and ideas helping create better youth sports experiences. The conversations throughout the evening reinforced that mission - and the collective role the sports community can play in ensuring more young people have the opportunity to experience the benefits of play.
