The Pathways Foundation

09/09/2026

Empowering the next generation to dream big and lead with character.

We are thrilled to honor Harold “Lefty” & Shyneefa Williams as inductees into the Hall of Hope Class of 2026!

Together through the Dare2Dream Foundation, Harlem Globetrotter legend “Lefty” Williams and his wife, author-educator Shyneefa, are dedicated to transforming the lives of young people. Through sports camps, character development, and leadership training, they equip youth with the tools and confidence to reach their full potential.

Congratulations to Harold and Shyneefa on this well-deserved honor!

09/03/2026

09/03/2026

09/03/2026

Honoring a true pioneer whose legacy continues to pave the way on and off the court. 🏀✨

We are deeply privileged to induct Chuck Cooper into the Hall of Hope Class of 2026!

As the first Black player drafted into the NBA, Chuck Cooper broke barriers that changed the game forever. Today, his mission lives on through the Chuck Cooper Foundation, which provides graduate scholarships, leadership development, and equity for under-resourced students.

We were honored to have his son, Chuck Cooper III, accept this award on his behalf and carry forward his father’s powerful legacy of service and opportunity.

Trailblazer EducationalEquity

09/03/2026

TPF x PAC

Three weeks in. Thirty-five PAC athletes already on the path. The mission continues!

Pro Athlete Community
The Pathways Foundation

09/02/2026

Celebrating a true pillar of the Springfield community! Introducing Eric Newkirk - our second inductee and our Springfield local honoree, to the Hall of Hope Class of 2026!

Through his leadership as an Athletic Director and the force behind the Newkirk Draft League, Eric’s passion for youth development and sports excellence continues to open doors for young athletes in the city where basketball began.

Congratulations, Eric—thank you for your dedication to our youth! 🏆

CommunityMentor

08/31/2026

Greatness isn’t just measured by performance on the court—it’s defined by how you uplift others long after the final buzzer.

We are proud to reveal our very first inductee for the Hall of Hope Class of 2026: Mario West!

As a former NBA guard and Georgia Tech captain, Mario took his passion for leadership far beyond basketball. Through The Mario West Foundation, he continues to empower Atlanta-area youth with life-changing mentorship and educational scholarships.

Join us in celebrating Mario’s incredible dedication to the next generation, and stay tuned as we reveal the rest of this year’s inductees!

08/31/2026

13 Athletes Unlimited pros just started the AI Career Accelerator — seven weeks to a Google AI credential, a real business project with Arena, and a career story that holds up in any room.

Softball. Volleyball. Basketball. Lacrosse. Same drive, new arena. We just getting started!

Aug 24 – Oct 9 · Follow along all season.

CareerAccelerator

08/27/2026

A game invented in a Springfield gym in the middle of winter has changed more lives than anyone could count. It has pulled kids out of hard places, paid for educations, given people a language they could speak anywhere in the world. Every Legend who came to The Pathways Foundation’s Hall of Hope this August has lived some version of that story.

That is why it meant what it meant that they came back to that exact gym at Springfield College. Springfield gave the game to the world, and this year the people the game lifted brought it back to the kids who live where it started. On the court, in the classroom, through bonds that will last forever.

Thank you Legends of Basketball , Springfield College, NBA Cares and Basketball HOF for the immense support and for reminding our students that the game is theirs.

08/23/2026

Congrats to the 2026 Hall of Hope AI Prototype Winners. Keep shooting for the stars, and the possibilities will be limitless!