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Tennessee student-athletes a part of new non-profit NIL partnership

On3 imageby:Brent Hubbs•09/27/22•

Brent_Hubbs

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The NIL collective Spyre announced a new partnership with Tennessee athletes as well as the Emerald Youth Foundation and Children’s Hospital on Tuesday through Spyre’s new non-profit organization called the Volunteer Legacy.

“Over the last ten months, we have communicated regularly with supporters and local community leaders,” said Brandon Spurlock, Vice President of Fundraising and Engagement with Volunteer Legacy. “ We identified a need where Volunteer Legacy could exist as a bridge to bring Tennessee student-athletes to the forefront in serving their community while partnering with other charitable organizations that do the same.” 

The partnership with Children’s Hospital and the Emerald Youth Foundation is the first of what Spurlock and Spyre believe will be many across the state with organizations where Tennessee student athletes leverage their name, image, likeness to promote and benefit those organizations. 

“It’s unique,” receiver Grant Frerking said, who is on the Spyre board of directors as well as and the NIL U president for On3. “When you hear NIL especially at the school level it’s fan interaction and it’s done through a collective or in some cases a directive. This is unique because these are two major organizations that have major impacts on the East Tennessee region. It really an opportunity for us to start a non-profit to get our athletes out in the community, still support them, but at the same time benefits these organizations.”

Steve Diggs is the President and CEO of Emerald Youth Foundation, which was created in in 1991. He sees it as a huge with for his organization.

“So many student-athletes at UT grow up in neighborhoods similar to the ones of our young people at Emerald Youth,”  Diggs said. “That connection, coupled with natural alignment with our programs, makes this a meaningful connection that will be mutually beneficial. My prayer is that the impact of these relationships will ripple for many years to come.”

Student athletes will regularly attend after school programming at one of the 12 locations with Emerald Youth and they will regularly visit with patients at Children’s Hospital as well as assist in fundraising. 

“This is a tremendous opportunity to provide unique experiences to our patients and families, as well as these student-athletes,” said Matt C. Schaefer, President & CEO of East Tennessee Children’s Hospital. “Hope and healing often go hand-in-hand, and I am excited about the smiles, hope and memories this partnership will bring to the families we serve.” 

Vol freshman defensive end Joshua Josephs spent Tuesday afternoon hanging out with kids at Emerald Youth and plans to be a regular participant in the partnership. 

“They’re the future,” Josephs said. “That’s what I think about. These kids are the future generation. It’s good to be around them and help them learn things at a young age from us so that they will be able to grow. 

“It’s cool because we are out here chilling with the kids, talking to them, having a good time. I really like these programs and will be a part of it in the future.” 

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