ESPN, The Undefeated, the NBA and ABC’s “Shark Tank” Team Up to #ChampionBlackBusinesses for the 2021 NBA Postseason [VIDEO]

CBB will elevate Black-owned businesses and their stories and cement the importance their imprint has on their communities across ESPN platforms during Conference Finals and beyond.

Following a successful debut in 2020, ESPN, in collaboration with The Undefeated, the NBA, and ABC, today announced the return of the #ChampionBlackBusinesses initiative. CBB will elevate Black-owned businesses and their stories and cement the importance their imprint has on their communities across ESPN platforms during Conference Finals and beyond. Also returning after last year’s success is ESPN’s partnership with ABC’s “Shark Tank,” where the Sharks, who are titans of business in their own right, will offer selected Black-owned businesses invaluable advice and help propel them to success yet again. ESPN is working with women and Black-owned marketing agency JOY Collective for the initiative.

“We are so proud to be able to bring this initiative back and continue to champion the Black community,” said Emeka Ofodile, Vice President of Sports Marketing, ESPN. “The NBA Playoffs are not only a time to celebrate athletes fighting for a championship, but a great opportunity to share the stories of Black-owned businesses who are fighting to impact their communities every day.”

As the world recovers from the pandemic and states begin to reopen, ESPN recognizes that Black-owned businesses have been disproportionally affected, representing more than 40 percent of pandemic-induced business closures. To create sustainable community impact, The Undefeated’s Music for the Movement committed to deepening support and resources for these businesses by providing both in-kind and financial support of $40,000.

“This year’s involvement with the #ChampionBlackBusinesses initiative is an opportunity to push awareness to the next level,” said Raina Kelley, Vice President and Editor-in-Chief of The Undefeated. “The collaborative effort between all of us plus fan engagement will make it a success.”

The four businesses selected to participate in this year’s #ChampionBlackBusinesses initiative are the following:

· Lomar Farms (New York) – An environmentally conscience family Bee farm that harvests raw honey, produces candles and other body products and potions

· Ride On! Bike Shop (Los Angeles) – A bicycle repair collective that proudly serves all cyclists, including new and veteran riders. Ride On Bike Shop believes that bikes offer a simple solution to many of our communities’ complex problems

· Hakim’s Bookstore (Philadelphia) – A family-owned book and gift store founded by Dawud Hakim in the late 1950s to educate his community about the rich heritage, culture, and contributions of African Americans. Hakim’s Bookstore is the oldest cultural bookstore on the East Coast

· The Cookie Society (Dallas) – A boutique bakery selling freshly baked cookies in Frisco, Texas, and shipping nationwide

The Champion Black Businesses process will include several phases:

· ESPN will spotlight four specific Black-owned businesses with unique films highlighting each business’ impact on their respective community

· CBB will create an Advisory Council which will include professionals from the worlds of finance, law, marketing, and management for further mentorship

· Sharks from ABC’s “Shark Tank,” including Mark Cuban, Robert Herjavec, and Daymond John, will review the business portfolios in a one-on-one mentor session and make recommendations to ensure success for the businesses moving forward. New episodes of Shark Tank are coming to ABC this fall

The films highlighting each business will debut and live on ESPN’s digital and social media channels as well as The Undefeated, and will feature music from their EP, “Liberated / Music For The Movement Volume 3.” The mentor sessions will also be recorded and produced into snackable cutdowns highlighting the best of each conversation.

To raise awareness and provide nationwide exposure to additional Black-owned business communities, ESPN will be asking fans throughout the 2021 NBA Playoffs to use the #ChampionBlackBusinesses hashtag across social channels to shout out their favorite Black-owned businesses.

For more information, please visit theundefeated.com/championblackbusinesses.