University of Connecticut basketball star Paige Bueckers announced that she would be using her new name, image, and likeness deal to address food inequality for students in her hometown.
The sophomore athlete, who was named the 2021 national player of the year, is using her platform to promote food stability with the nonprofit organization Chegg. Chegg seeks to partner with pop-up grocery relief programs that will provide 6,000 free meals for struggling students in the Minneapolis area.
“It means a lot,” Bueckers shared with ESPN, noting that being able to help her hometown has had a significant impact on her. “To be in a position to give back to a community that gave me so much, especially not knowing for so long if I could be here on the court with my team, it’s really fulfilling. But it’s also only just the start.”
Throughout her deal, the UConn guard is hopeful that Chegg will be able to keep permanent grocery stores available on schools and campuses. Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, the nonprofit released that nearly 32% of students have experienced some form of food insecurity.
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Paige Bueckers looks forward to using her platform to generate resources for underprivileged students
“I am really lucky to have grown up with food on the table,” the basketball player continued. “Today I want to make sure I am sharing the opportunities I get and the resources I have with others who might need a hand. I have a lot of privilege and it’s my responsibility to share.”
Bueckers is one of the most regarded student-athletes of this generation with a whopping 1 million Instagram followers. Corporations such as StockX, Gatorade, and Cash App have also partnered with her, which places her as having the highest estimated social media post value ($62,900) for both men’s and women’s Sweet 16 athletes.
With this being said, she has made it clear that portions of her salary will be going towards social justice. Creating the Paige Bueckers Foundation, the basketball player wants to use her fame to aid social equality across the nation.
“My goal has always been to use my platform to lift and shine my light on others,” she explained. “For me, the opportunity to build a business while playing in college has always been about the change I can make and this partnership is a great example of that.”
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