Caps off 20th year with a 3-day Celebration, ‘Lift a Giant’ Campaign Launch, and Multi-Year Partnership with Canada Goose
Toronto, ON (December 4, 2023) – Giants of Africa, the non-profit organization co-founded by Toronto Raptors vice-chairman and president Masai Ujiri, marked its two-decade journey with ‘Dream Big Weekend’ in Toronto from December 1st to 3rd. The celebration not only looked back at the organization’s remarkable achievements but reaffirmed its continued commitment to the future.
Since 2003, Giants of Africa has positively impacted more than 40,000 African youth across 17 countries through access to 34 basketball courts and 80 camps or clinics. Twenty-nine of the total courts have been made possible through ‘Built Within’, the foundation’s multi-year, 100-court commitment to investing in sports infrastructure across Africa, launched in 2021.
Masai Ujiri, reflecting on 20 years of Giants of Africa’s impactful journey, stated, “For two decades, we’ve been inspired by the resilience, dreams, and potential of African youth. As we celebrate this milestone with ‘Dream Big Weekend’, we not only commemorate the progress we’ve made but also eagerly look ahead. The next chapter holds new opportunities to empower, uplift, and amplify the voices of the incredible young people we serve.”
“With pride and gratitude for all who have supported us, we continue our commitment to using basketball as a tool to empower and inspire African youth. ‘Dream Big Weekend’ signified not just a celebration but a renewed dedication to deliver positive change. We look forward with optimism because the journey continues, and we are resolute in our commitment to making a lasting impact on the lives of the youth we serve,” continued Ujiri.
The 3-day ‘Dream Big Weekend’ was a comprehensive celebration, featuring:
- December 1st: The Toronto Raptors took on the New York Knicks on ‘Giants of Africa Night’ at Scotiabank Arena. The evening featured in-game presentations showcasing African culture in celebration of Giants of Africa’s 20th anniversary.
- December 2nd: In collaboration with the Muslim Women’s Summer Basketball League, Giants of Africa hosted an all-girls basketball clinic led by an all-women coaching staff, including Toronto Raptors assistant coach Mery Andrade and current and former Team Canada players such as Kia Nurse.
- December 3rd: Presented by Bell and held at HISTORY, the gala aimed to raise funds to support Giants of Africa’s ongoing mission of empowering African youth. The night featured performances from R&B sensation Boyz II Men and award-winning Afro-fusion artist TÖME.
Lift a Giant Campaign
To commemorate the 20th anniversary, Giants of Africa has launched the ‘Lift a Giant’ program, an initiative that enables young people to participate in transformative, life-changing experiences. Donations made have the power to create a profound impact on the lives of African youth by providing opportunities to participate in camps, clinics, and access well-equipped basketball courts.
To donate, visit https://giantsofafrica.org/donate/.
Giants of Africa x Toronto Raptors
In celebration of the foundation’s 20th anniversary the Giants of Africa x Toronto Raptors limited-edition hoodie, features a custom pattern paying tribute to the youth of Africa who have inspired Giants of Africa over the past 20 years.
Already cemented as ‘Canada’s team’, the Raptors’ stated its ambition to grow its brand and reach beyond these borders, widening the team’s global footprint with a comprehensive international strategy. During this summer’s Giants of Africa festival, the two organizations, together with October’s Very Own, worked together to build their first international court in Kigali, Rwanda as a first step in this international strategy with additional projects planned in the coming years.
The Giants of Africa x Toronto Raptors hoodie is available at Real Sports Apparel online until December 7th at midnight EST, 100% of net proceeds will go towards Giants of Africa’s ‘Lift a Giant’ program. While quantities last.
Canada Goose x Giants of Africa
Giants of Africa proudly announced its multi-year partnership with Canada Goose today. Grounded in the shared purpose of empowering and enabling people to achieve greatness and chase their dreams, this collaboration is a celebration of two decades of critical work by the foundation.
The FW23 capsule collection, the first of two collections, is a limited-edition, reimagined Crofton Vest for Giants of Africa available in Sagebrush with the interior lining in Daffodil and Canada Goose x Giants of Africa 20th anniversary co-branding elements. In celebration of two decades of important work, the colourway was inspired by the core colours present in some of the photography captured by the Giants of Africa team over the last 20 years, allowing their rich legacy to continue to shine through.
Available now exclusively at the Canada Goose Toronto Eaton Centre store, 100% of the proceeds from this collection will be donated to Giants of Africa.
About Giants of Africa and Masai Ujiri
Masai Ujiri is the first and only African-born President of a professional sports franchise in North America. In 2019, Masai led the Raptors to their first-ever NBA Championship and the first NBA Championship won by a team outside the United States in NBA history. In 2003, Masai co-founded the Giants of Africa Foundation, based on the idea of using basketball as a means of educating and enriching the lives of African youth—both boys and girls. Giants of Africa has used sport to help empower youth to dream big, hosting basketball camps and clinics for boys and girls in 17 countries across the continent. In 2021, Giants of Africa launched the ‘Built Within’ 100-court initiative and have unveiled 29 basketball facilities in 9 African countries to date. To celebrate the organization’s 20th anniversary, the inaugural Giants of Africa Festival brought together over 250 youth from 16 countries across Africa to Kigali, Rwanda for a week-long celebration of basketball, education, culture, and entertainment in August 2023.
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