Serena Williams & sister Venus honor late sister Yetunde's memory with philanthropic effort inspired by their experience with poverty & gender pay gap
The iconic sister duo, Venus and Serena Williams, recently announced the Yetunde Price Resourceful Community Awards, a significant new initiative in their philanthropic journey. Revealed on Tuesday, December 3, the awards aim to support organizations making a profound impact in their communities and serve as a tribute to their late sister, Yetunde Price, who tragically lost her life in 2003.
For years, Serena has been a steadfast advocate for equal pay for women in sports and beyond. Notably, the sisters triumphed over poverty and adversity, reaching the pinnacle of tennis.
While the Williams sisters gained global recognition for their prowess in tennis, they also used their prominence to advance philanthropic causes, most notably through the Yetunde Price Resource Center, established in 2017 in honor of their half-sister.
This initiative was created to provide community members affected by trauma with the necessary resources and support to navigate the healing process.
Inspired by the previous challenges in their life, the duo recently introduced the Yetunde Price Resourceful Community Awards. They shared the update on Instagram:
"This #GivingTuesday, we invite you to join us in making a meaningful impact for communities across the country. Our philanthropy focuses on helping individuals and communities mitigate the repercussions of inequity.
Drawing on our lived experiences of—breaking the cycle of poverty, navigating the gender pay gap, stigmas around seeking mental health and wellness care, tackling disparities in women’s health, and access to capital for all including women and people of color (Serena Ventures)—we are committed to raising awareness, funds, and providing programming to communities in need of resources," they informed.
"This year, we’re proud to announce that we are expanding our philanthropic footprint nationwide with the Yetunde Price Resourceful Community Awards, honoring the memory of our beloved sister, Yetunde Price, supporting centers and organizations that can show demonstrated impact in the community," they added.
The Williams are widely regarded as one of the greatest duos in tennis history. Venus, the elder of the two, has claimed an impressive seven Major titles in her career, while Serena has amassed a staggering 23. They have also dominated in the doubles category, securing 14 Grand Slam titles as a team.
Serena Williams' husband Alexis Ohanian has also taken significant philanthropic steps over the years
Serena Williams' husband, Alexis Ohanian, has remained actively involved in philanthropic efforts alongside his business ventures. Last year, the Reddit co-founder pledged $100,000 to support climate change activists and entrepreneurs dedicated to preserving the planet.
Ohanian, through his venture capital firm, Seven Seven Six, launched an award in Texas to recognize fellowships for individuals dedicated to combating climate change.
"I tell these fellows, 'I just need one of you to do something amazing and I will be bragging about that for the rest of my years to my daughter,' right? I'd be like, 'Remember, papa was the one to believe in that thing that saved our planet,'" Ohanian said. I want people to come up to Olympia talking about how cool her dad is just as much as people come up to her and say how cool her mom is," he told CBS Morning.
Ohanian, his wife Serena and sister Venus co-founded the Los Angeles Golf Club (LAGC). In January, the club launched a 10% giveback program to support the restoration of the Maggie Hathaway Course, with 10% of annual sponsorship revenues dedicated to revitalizing the course and its facilities.