The Unicorns Sport Foundation today announced its official launch as a 501(c)(3) public charity dedicated to expanding access to cricket and the broader benefits of sport for young people and communities across the Bay Area.
Cricket is one of the world’s most played sports, with deep roots across many of the communities that make the Bay Area one of the most diverse regions globally. The Foundation has been established to harness that connection, using cricket as its primary vehicle to build equity, opportunity, and community for young people across the region.
The Foundation launches with the support of Anand Rajaraman and Venky Harinarayan, technology entrepreneurs and investors, and significantly, co-founders of the San Francisco Unicorns MLC franchise, which will be a key commercial and operational partner to the initiative.
Guided by three strategic pillars — expanding participation for girls and women in cricket and sport, removing barriers to access and equity, and building grassroots cricket pathways and infrastructure — the Foundation will invest in programs, partnerships, and facilities that create long-term opportunity on and off the field.
Through these initiatives, the Foundation aims to engage more than 10,000 young people across the Bay Area by 2030, deliver 100 community programs, and create sustainable pathways that connect participation in sport with personal growth and leadership opportunities.
Pradeep Nair, Head of Foundation, said: “Sport is one of the most effective catalysts we have for building equity, confidence, and community, while cricket gives us a powerful, natural place to start in the Bay Area.
“This region has shown the world what is possible when innovation, opportunity, and ambition collide. The Foundation exists to bring that same energy to the playing field, driven by a conviction that the benefits of sport should be accessible to every young person, regardless of background. My immediate focus is launching our initial cricketing and community programs, while building the long-term partnerships that will help us deliver success for many generations to come.”
Venky Harinarayan, co-owner of San Francisco Unicorns, added: “We know that elite sports can be a key driver for positive social change and have seen firsthand the positive impact of these initiatives, such as our Family Day, can have on participation, inclusion, and engagement.
“With the launch of the Unicorns Sport Foundation, we want to take this one step further and deliver a grassroots movement that harnesses the power of cricket and the San Francisco Unicorns brand to be a real driving force for good in the Bay Area and beyond.”
In its first phase, the Foundation is establishing strategic partnerships and rolling out initial cricket and community programming across the Bay Area. The Foundation welcomes organizations, community partners, and individuals who share its commitment to expanding opportunity through sport.
To learn more or explore how to get involved, contact [email protected].
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