Russell Wilson & Ciara Receive 2022 Paul G. Allen Humanitarian Award
On Thursday, May 26, 2022 the Seattle Sports Commission hosted the 87th Annual Sports Star of the Year Awards in Seattle to celebrate the city’s athletes, coaches and those that support the Seattle community. At this year’s ceremony, our founders, Russell Wilson and Ciara, were honored with the Paul G. Allen Humanitarian Award for their work with the Why Not You Foundation and their long-standing commitment to the Seattle community. Together with the foundation, Russell and Ciara work to fight poverty and impact education and children’s health.
Russell and Ciara joined the event virtually and spoke with hosts Kenny Mayne and Angie Mentick about their commitment to the Seattle community over the years, how these efforts will continue, and why making a positive impact through the WNYF is a top priority for them both.
Each year, the Paul G. Allen Humanitarian Award is given to those who have made a significant impact on the Seattle community through their philanthropic efforts and dedication to the community. The award was named after Microsoft co-founder, sports fan and philanthropist, Paul G. Allen, who helped ensure the Seattle Seahawks remained in Seattle after purchasing the team in 1997. Previous honorees include Seattle-native and NBA legend Jamal Crawford, Seahawks general manager John Schneider and his wife Traci, and Ginger Ackerley, who founded and chaired the Seattle Storm and formerly co-owned the Seattle Supersonics.
Other honorees at this years’ Sports Star of the Year Awards included Jim Whittaker, one of the most accomplished mountaineers in U.S. history; Maealie Glanzer, a youth hockey player who was the state’s first recipient of a Black Girl Hockey Club scholarship; Mike Gastineau and Dave Grosby, co-hosts of “Groz with Gas,” one of the most popular shows in Seattle sports-talk radio history; and Baseball Beyond Borders, an organization using sports as a framework to teach critical life skills to youth of color.