Movember and Laureus USA Expand Sport for Good Partnership to New York City and Atlanta

NEW YORK and ATLANTA — Today, Movember and Laureus USA announced an expansion of their Sport for Good x Game Changers partnership, increasing Movember’s total investment to $1,275,000 and extending programming into New York City and Atlanta, alongside ongoing programs in Chicago. Building on the success of the inaugural Chicago cohort, the partnership will now support nine additional organizations over three years — five in Atlanta and four in New York City — all delivering sport-based youth development programs.

The first year in Chicago delivered clear impact for both young people and the communities around them. Nearly all participants (92%) showed growth in key life skills like confidence, emotional management, and motivation, with nearly two-thirds improving in multiple areas. Just as importantly, 86% said they would recommend the program to a friend—an indicator of strong, positive experiences.

For communities, the funding helped trusted local organizations stay stable, reach more young people, and strengthen the support they provide—during a critical time of funding cuts and rising mental health challenges. These programs created safe, consistent spaces where young people could build relationships, stay engaged, and navigate difficult circumstances, reinforcing sport as a powerful entry point for mental health support.

Movember & Laureus USA team up to take on youth mental health at a Chicago Town Hall

“This next phase of our partnership with Movember reflects a shared belief that lasting impact comes from investing in community-led solutions,” said Peter Feldman, Director of Programs at Laureus USA. “In New York City and Atlanta, we’re supporting organizations that are embedding mental health into the fabric of their sport programs, meeting young people where they are, and building environments rooted in trust, belonging, and resilience.”

Access to sport remains deeply inequitable across the U.S., with young people in historically under-resourced communities facing persistent barriers to participation. At the same time, youth mental health challenges continue to rise – particularly among adolescents navigating systemic inequities. Sports programming, when delivered intentionally, is a proven tool for building resilience and emotional regulation, strengthening social connection and belonging, and creating safe, structured environments for youth development. With Chicago, New York City, and Atlanta now active, the partnership between Movember and Laureus USA is positioned to continue expanding its reach – bringing new resources, visibility, and coordination to communities where they are needed most.

“What started in Chicago as a powerful proof point is now scaling to reach more young people across the country,” said Tim Gnaneswaran, U.S. Country Director at Movember. “By expanding our partnership with Laureus USA into New York City and Atlanta, we’re deepening our commitment to ensuring more young people have access to sport as a pathway to better mental health.”

Game Changers

Year two of each grant also brings Movember’s mental health literacy programming: Game Changers. Movember’s Game Changers program was co-designed with community non-profit organizations and integrates into local youth sports programs by giving young men the skills to support their mental health and identity development. Pilot results from nearly 200 Game Changers participants showed highly successful outcomes. Participants who completed the program stated “I feel more confident being myself”, “it helped me grow as both an athlete and a person”, and “the conversations felt real — people actually listened.” Additionally, results showed: 

• Over 80% of participants reported growth and increased confidence in emotional flexibility, positive mental health, and sense of self and purpose across both sport and life
• 86% say they feel more confident in being the best version of themselves
• 84% feel confident using the mental health skills they learned in their daily lives
• 74% feel more in tune with their own emotions and how to manage them

New Grantees

The following organizations have been selected through a competitive, community-informed process led by Movember and Laureus USA. Each will receive multi-year funding and capacity-building support.

New York City: 4 Organizations

Atlanta: 5 Organizations

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About Movember

Over twenty years ago, a bristly idea was born in Australia, igniting a movement that would transcend borders and change the face of men’s health forever. The movement, known as Movember, united people from all walks of life – sparking billions of important conversations, raising vital funds, and shattering the silence surrounding men’s health issues. Since 2003, the trailblazing mustachioed charity has shaken up men’s health research and transformed the way that health services reach and support men, taking on prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention, with unwavering determination. 

Our passionate community of global Mo’s have raised over $1 billion for men’s health, funding more than 1,300 projects worldwide. This includes some of the largest global prostate cancer registries, driven by the real-life experiences of hundreds of thousands of men. Since expanding into mental health and suicide prevention in 2006, Movember has highlighted the need for stronger social connections, early recognition of mental health issues, and better support for men in distress. Our goal is to ensure that more men know what to do when mental health issues appear and that their supporters are better prepared to step in when needed. 

Movember is committed to driving innovative research, cutting-edge treatments, and healthy behaviors while championing inclusive, gender-responsive healthcare tailored to diverse needs. Movember’s vision is to break down health barriers, eliminate stigma, and ensure everyone has an equal chance at a long, healthy life. By advancing men’s health, we aim to create a ripple effect that positively impacts women, families, and society as a whole. To learn more, please visit Movember.com.

About Laureus USA

Laureus USA is a non-profit, grant-making organization that works to improve the lives of youth and unite communities through the power of sport. Since 2012, we have impacted the lives of over one million youth by investing $30 million in sports-based youth development organizations around the country that unleash the power of sport to enhance physical and mental health, improve educational and employment outcomes, and address critical social justice issues. We have also provided trainings focused on positive youth development and social-emotional learning for over 20,000 coaches. Laureus USA is a member of the global Laureus network, which includes 7 National Laureus Sport for Good Foundations, 1 Global Foundation, the Laureus World Sports Academy (and Ambassadors), and the Laureus World Sports Awards. Learn more about Sport for Good at www.LaureusUSA.com.