NBA FOUNDATION SELECTS MKE FELLOWS TO RECEIVE MAJOR GRANT AWARD
MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin (February 1, 2023) – The NBA Foundation today announced the recipients of its
latest round of grant funding to 34 organizations totaling $16.4 million. Among those awardees chosen
to receive critical funding is the MKE Fellows, a Wisconsin-based leadership and professional
development initiative which launched in 2011 and has escalated to national acclaim for the astounding
college graduation rate it has established for African American males from Milwaukee.
“With this life-sustaining injection of financial support from the NBA Foundation, the stability and
progress of the MKE Fellows program is assured for years to come,” remarked MKE Fellows President
and Founder, John W. Daniels III. “2023 has been a phenomenally progressive year for the Fellows
program, well-defined by the Olympians, Hall of Famers, World Champions, CEO’s, Presidents, History
Makers, and America’s most distinguished and influential business leaders, corporate icons, and sports
figures who have chosen to partner and support this phenomenal initiative. We are deeply grateful for
this tremendous show of support and confidence from the NBA Foundation for the MKE Fellows.”
About the NBA Foundation
Created in August 2020, the NBA Foundation is the league’s first-ever charitable foundation dedicated to
driving economic opportunity for Black youth. The Foundation invests in local and national
organizations that promote school-to-career and workforce development opportunities. For more
information visit nbafoundation.com. “The NBA Foundation is proud to support the MKE Fellows in their endeavor to prepare young Black men to excel in their careers and as leaders in the Milwaukee community,” said NBA Foundation Executive Director Greg Taylor. “Our philosophies are similar in that we want to ensure young people have access to workforce development programs that lead to meaningful job opportunities, and we look forward to seeing their continued impact on the next generation of Black leaders.”
Impact of MKE Fellows
Google, BlackRock, MIT, Harvard University, the US Army, Pro Football Hall of Fame, American Express,
PGA of America, NBA, NFL, MLB, the Ryder Cup, and other universally recognized corporations and
organizations now advise, intern, mentor, or employ multiple MKE Fellows graduates across the country.
By design, MKE Fellows are emerging as thought leaders and decision makers with organizations like
Church Mutual, RW Baird, Morgan Stanley, Advocate Aurora, BMO Harris, Northwestern Mutual, and
many others.
MKE Fellows educational partnerships have never been stronger as evidenced by the significant progress
results produced through the “Lead Generation” program – a collaboration of resources with Cardinal
Stritch, Milwaukee Area Technical College, and Milwaukee Public Schools. Marquette University was
instrumental in participating in the Sports Analytics Club Program (SACP) – a data analytics project that
has taken former Final Four MVP and Marquette University alum Butch Lee to the doors of the NCAA
Hall of Fame and then back to Wisconsin to celebrate Butch Lee Day in Milwaukee. We launched or
expanded initiatives with UW-Green Bay, Lakeland College in Sheboygan, and Edgewood College in
Madison. The MKE Fellows program now boasts of over 185 collegiate scholars matriculating around the
country from HBCU’s to the Ivy League.
For additional information, contact Nathaneal Washington at nwashington@alivemke.com.