SEATTLE — Rise Above is a local nonprofit that encourages Native youth to lead healthy lives through education programs. Amazon is partnering with Rise Above to amplify its reach.
“Rise Above was really started for lack of representation,” said Jaci McCormack, Native American basketball legend and Rise Above co-founder. “I grew up in a small reservation in Idaho, and I didn’t have somebody who looked like me doing what I wanted to do.”
McCormack’s organization delivers education, prevention skills and mentorship through programs tailored to kids’ needs. Working closely with tribes and partners, Rise Above builds tailored programs with basketball clinics at the center. The free youth clinics are an invitation for Native youth to hone their skills on and off the court.
“At the end of the day, it’s about hope and giving our kids some hope that they can do it too,” she said.
Amazon partners with Rise Above and other organizations in the area to help create opportunities and implement creative solutions that have a lasting impact.
“We have deep roots here in the Puget Sound region,” said Dean Allsopp of Amazon. “We have a vested interest in seeing the success of this area.”
In June, Amazon partnered with West Point to bring 36 Native youth to Amazon’s AWS Skills Center. Seven West Point cadets led students through a one-day leadership, ethics and diversity workshop with hands-on, large and small group STEM activities.
“For us, sport is a modality, but also STEM, art, music, any way we’re able to reach kids and provide those spaces and opportunities,” McCormack said.
Amazon also hosted kids from Rise Above this month at its Winter Wonderland Toy Shop. Families were able to pick out stocking stuffers to take home with them, and parents received a gift card. Families also participated in fun activities at the unique holiday experience.
Amazon welcomed families from 12 nonprofits at Winter Wonderland, and 600 Amazon volunteers worked to build out the toy store experience.
“Since 2022, we’ve invested 174 million dollars in over 300 nonprofits in this area, and we’re looking forward to doing more,” Allsopp said.
To learn more about Rise Above and its impact in the community, visit the organization’s website.
Sponsored by Amazon.
Segment Producer Suzie Wiley. Watch New Day Northwest at 11 a.m. weekdays on KING 5 and streaming live on KING5.com. Contact New Day.