Black Athletes in the Wine Industry Team Up in Support of The Roots Fund
Channing Frye Spearheads Fundraiser Joined by LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Klay Thompson, CJ McCollum, Isiah Thomas, Josh Hart and Charles Woodson
PORTLAND, Ore. (January 30, 2023) – In honor of Black History Month, Black Athletes in the wine space have joined together to support diversity and inclusion in the wine industry. Channing Frye and Chosen Family Wines invited fellow Black athletes to come together in support of The Roots Fund, a nonprofit that provides resources – including financial support, educational scholarships, wine education, mentorship, and job placement – to BIPOC scholars interested in the wine industry. In addition to Channing Frye and Chosen Family Wines Partner Kevin Love, the current roster of Black Athletes pledging their support to The Roots Fund include: LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Klay Thompson, CJ McCollum, Isiah Thomas, Josh Hart and Charles Woodson.
Chosen Family Wines, Wade Cellars, McCollum Heritage 91, and Charles Woodson’s Intercept Wines will all be donating 10% of online wine sales in February to The Roots Fund. Participating athletes are making a variety of additional contributions: from generous cash donations, to signed bottles of wine, to memorabilia to be auctioned off at the second annual The Roots Fund Charity Auction Gala on Sunday, March 5th at Tribeca Rooftop in NYC. The formal event, which has become a must-attend for the wine industry, will include a gala dinner, an in-person auction hosted by Zachys, and a virtual auction of wines and experiences donated by world-renowned estates and wineries from around the world. Proceeds from the event and the online auction will directly support The Roots Fund mission.
“For us at Chosen, wine is not just about putting juice in a bottle.” Says Channing Frye, “It’s about bringing a group of people together – and that includes anyone and everyone. That’s why for Black History Month, I’ve asked my fellow athlete brothers and sisters who have all been working on inclusivity in the wine space to come together as a team to amplify our voices and impact as we support an amazing nonprofit making impactful changes every day: The Roots Fund.”
Chosen Family Wines was founded by Frye in 2020. Frye has since partnered with his former 2016 NBA Championship teammate and current Cleveland Cavaliers star, Kevin Love, as well as CEO Jacob Gray, and Chase Renton. Together they are champions for the next generation of great winemakers and wine lovers at every step of their journey.
ABOUT THE ROOTS FUND
The Roots Fund is a non-profit organization focused on securing the pathway for the BIPOC community in wine. Built to create financial support for education, mentorship, and job placement opportunities, The Roots Fund is out “doing the work,” to create inclusivity for communities of color in the wine industry. Since its foundation in 2020, they have raised over $1 million and created 155 scholarships that will bring years of change and equity into the wine industry. For more information and to learn how you can help, visit www.therootsfund.org.
ABOUT CHOSEN FAMILY WINES
Chosen Family Wines was founded by 2016 NBA Champion Channing Frye with a mission to connect people through some of the best wines imaginable, and a promise that what you are drinking is cultivated with care. Frye has partnered with his former 2016 NBA Championship teammate and current Cleveland Cavaliers star, Kevin Love, as well as CEO Jacob Gray, and Chase Renton. They partner with some of the best young winemakers in the world to share wines that tell the story of their renowned terroir while providing unparalleled quality and value. Each bottle of wine that they produce is a result of the synergy between terroir, technique, and unique barrel selection, reflecting the unity of their chosen family of partners and friends. Chosen Family Wines can be found in select wine stores and high-end markets, as well as several wine membership tiers and options, including Chosen Ones, Champions, and Channing’s Choice. For more information, visit chosenfamilywines.com and follow @chosenfamilywines on Instagram and Twitter.tio
