By revitalizing basketball courts, Every Court Has A Story aims to unite and fortify communities with a vibrant and safe place to gather and play.
In 2022, JDS Sports started Play With Purpose, a philanthropic arm that has since donated over $3.25M to 30+ non-profit organizations that are using sports as a vehicle to bring communities together and create social good. Every Court Has a Story has become an annual initiative that JDS Sports executes with partners.
In 2023, JDS Sports partnered with Project Backboard (NPO), Local Hoops, and Victory Creative to produce Every Court Has A Story -- an anual contest in which individuals can nominate a basketball court that holds a special place in their heart but is in need of attention and care. Contestants are invited to enter by creating and submitting YouTube videos that tell their local court's story. Winning basketball courts are chosen to undergo comprehensive refurbishment -- including crack repairs, patch filling, resurfacing, artistic color coating, and the addition of new backboards and rims.
2023 Winners recently completed court renovations while the 2024 winner was selected this summer.
JDS Sports, Project Backboard, Local Hoops, and Victory Creative coalesce via basketball and the belief that safe outdoor activities should be promoted. Through complimentary skillsets, each partner filled a role in executing Every Court Has a Story.
JDS Sports -- financing for court refurbishments was provided via JDS Sports' philanthropic arm. In addition to financing, JDS Sports leveraged portfolio companies such as SLAM Media and Five-Star Basketball to expand the project's reach.
Project Backboard 501c3 -- founded in 2015 with the mission to renovate public basketball courts and install large scale works of site-specific art on the surface in order to strengthen communities, improve park safety, and inspire people to think more critically and creatively about their environment. Project Backboard is the court refurbishment execution partner that specializes in end to end court refurbishment, dealing with the parks departments that manage courts, and sourcing local artists to paint re-surfaced courts.
Local Hoops -- focused on building a global community around the game of basketball by telling authentic stories about people who love the game while raising the bar for equality on and off the court. Local Hoops constructed the contest mechanics, including the entry system, YouTube channel, and website.
Victory Creative -- a digital agency that services major clients such as Nike, Victory worked with Local Hoops to creatively brand Every Court Has a Story and build assets for social and web.
2024 Judges:
Implemented in 2024, a judges pannel was a major improvement for the project. Each judge carries influence in the basketball industry and expanded the reach of the contest in addition to providing an open and fair way to select winners.
There have now been 39 submissions between '23 and '24 Every Court Has a Story contests. The submissions speak to the importance of safe spaces to play and are opportunites for individuals to tell their stories and unify their communities, whether they are selected as winners or not.
Of the 39 submissions, 3 courts have been chosen as winners. Pittsburgh and Brooklyn courts (2023 winners) were completed this summer 2024. In line with the mission of the project, activating renovated courts is a major goal.
The below recap video of Raymond Bush Playground in Brooklyn shows a free youth clininc and 'He Got Next' competition hosted on the newly renovated court as example of refurbishment increasing play within communities.
Brooklyn Court Featured in Jordan Brand Commercial
At Alleghany Commons Park in Pittsburgh (The Jungle), community members were invited to complete a survery to provide input for how the court should be refurbished and used after being selected as Every Court Has a Story winners. The below Instagram link recaps the court refurbishment celebration in which the City of Pittsburgh named the August 3rd 'Jungle Day.'
Our 2024 winner from Hillside Connection Park in Colorado Springs was receently selected and is the next court to undergo renovation by next year.
The contest was also noted by the NBA during this year's submission period.
