Nike launches Nike Athlete Think Tank to address girls' sports participation

Nike is “working to address” the problem of girl’s sport participation at its "earliest stages" through the newly launched Nike Athlete Think Tank, according to Taylor Dutch of SELF.com. The brand announced a $1.3M donation “geared primarily toward programs that increase access to sports participation for girls.” For over a year, Nike leaders asked for "feedback and collaboration from 13 of the brand’s top sponsored athletes" including tennis player Serena Williams, swimmer Simone Manuel, and Liberty G Sabrina Ionescu. On those conversations, Nike VP/Women’s Global Sports Marketing Tanya Hvizdak said, “We specifically asked how they believe sport can move the world forward, how we can help break barriers to sport, and how we can better leverage their input and ideas.” Nike is investing into a “range of programs” through the Charities Aid Foundation America. The grant “will be split between the 13 athletes and given in each of their names to 20 total organizations they nominated” (SELF.com, 3/17).