The Chicago Bulls partnered with local non-profit Beyond the Ball to help further the shared mission of leveraging the power of sport to unite people. The Bulls organization is built on a connection to the city, using its resources and influence to elevate the organizations addressing critical issues in Chicago.
Beyond the Ball is a Chicago non-profit that has provided sports-based youth and community development activities for more than 20 years in the Little Village neighborhood that reaches more than 1,500 youth and their families annually.
Since the partnership began in 2023, the Bulls have aided and amplified the good work already being done by Beyond the Ball and its Co-Founder and Executive Director, Rob Castaneda, celebrating community and creating a culture of opportunity.
The Bulls’ partnership with Beyond the Ball demonstrates the power basketball has to unite people. The Bulls are committed to expanding access to basketball and bringing people together through sport. Sports can teach people valuable life skills that help prepare them to succeed on and off the court in the future. Maintaining strong relationships with local leaders and investing in Chicago’s community remains a priority as the Bulls seek to honor culture, empower the next generation and showcase the Bulls brand in a unique way through sport and culture.
Beyond the Ball has held their programming in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood for more than 20 years and persevered through the historic gang violence that has affected the community. The Bulls and Beyond the Ball understood that creating a positive safe space for youth to play was what the neighborhood needed most.
After the two organizations partnered to host Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu’s annual Block Party in Little Village and included Beyond the Ball coaches in the Bulls Girls Coaching Cohort, the Bulls heard from Beyond the Ball leadership that the neighborhood was eager for more but could use more assistance in building the environment to encourage that activity.
The main courts that Beyond the Ball used for programming were torn up and outdated. It was critical that Beyond the Ball had safe, accessible outdoor play spaces for programming, as the organization noticed that any events indoors created inherent barriers to entry for youth.
So, in October 2024, the Bulls and Beyond the Ball made that safe space a reality by refurbishing the three basketball courts that Beyond the Ball has long used for programming. A space that was once considered one of the most dangerous in the neighborhood for more than 50 years, developed into one of play and positivity thanks to Beyond the Ball’s programming and further beautified by the new court design, providing a space for young people to continue doing what they love and serving as a source of pride for the neighborhood. The three courts feature artwork designed by artist Roco Drilo, whose painting features vibrant colors aimed to inspire young people to strive for greatness while enjoying themselves and competing in a healthy, safe environment.
Rob summed up the focus and impact of the program eloquently: “It’s inspiration. It’s hope. Children need places where they can feel safe, where they can thrive, where they can develop. Whether you’ve been involved in the streets or not, one thing we can all agree on is that our children should be able to have a childhood.”
The Bulls and Beyond the Ball continued to show Little Village youth that basketball has no borders when the two collaborated with Premier League icon Manchester United to host a crossover clinic in July 2025. 60 youth from Little Village had the opportunity to do drills and skills with Bulls and MUFC legends Kendall Gill and Wes Brown, all united by sport and community values.
To date, the Bulls and Beyond the Ball have partnered on five different community initiatives: the court refurbishment, a crossover clinic with Manchester United, Ayo Dosunmu’s Block Party, the Girls Coaching Cohort and Motorola Neighborhood Clinics. These events demonstrate the Bulls’ commitment to unifying people through sport and deepen connections between the neighborhood and the franchise.
The partnership has expanded on the foundation Beyond the Ball already built in the community, uniting people through basketball and developing youth in the neighborhood. Beyond the Ball continues to serve as a pillar of Little Village. 16 of its 19 staff members came up through the program from a young age, while many others are running other youth development organizations in the area.
Outside of the community initiatives, the Bulls have hosted Beyond the Ball athletes and staff at home games, provided essential sports equipment for their programming and highlighted their work in the community within the United Center on Bulls game days.
The courts and the partnership with Beyond the Ball serve as a shining example of how the Bulls use the power of basketball to honor culture and empower communities. The Bulls’ commitment, however, extends year-round. Through basketball clinics and the annual Los Bulls night, the Bulls look to build long-term community partnerships that benefit all Chicagoans.
