Special Olympics At the Special Olympics World Winter Games, ESPN’s commitment to inclusion took center stage. Corporate Citizenship partnered closely with production teams to spotlight Unified Sports and the impact of past grants, while ESPN leadership participated in Opening Ceremonies in a moment of global solidarity. Broadcast coverage on Disney+, ABC and ESPN+ amplified the stories of athletes worldwide. ESPN’s relationship with Special Olympics spans more than 42 years. Since 2013, that relationship has deepened, with ESPN serving as the official media partner for Special Olympics World Games and USA Games events in Los Angeles (2015), Austria (2017), Seattle (2018), Abu Dhabi (2019), Orlando (2022), Berlin (2023), and Turin (2025), as well as the 50th Anniversary of Special Olympics. The alliance between ESPN and Special Olympics uses the power of sports to promote social inclusion and acceptance through strategic pillars of the relationship: ESPN’s Global Broadcast Partner for Special Olympics World Games, World Winter Games and USA Games. Dedicated to promoting social inclusion through shared sports training and competition experiences, Special Olympics Unified Sports joins people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team. It was inspired by a simple principle: training together and playing together is a quick path to friendship and understanding. With support from ESPN and others, Special Olympics has grown this innovative and inclusive program to more than 1.8 million participants. // 2025 CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP IMPACT REPORT 20 ESPN has hosted the Special Olympics Unified Sports Challenge since 2018. PARTNERS Our impact is made possible through the strength of our partners. By working alongside leagues, athletes, nonprofits and corporate collaborators, we extend the reach of our platforms and turn shared purpose into action—demonstrating that meaningful, lasting change is only possible through collective effort. 2025 OVERVIEW “Hockey Fights Cancer is a powerful reminder of what our sport can accomplish when we come together around a cause that touches so many lives. Through our partnership with the V Foundation for Cancer Research, we’re not only raising critical funds to advance life-saving discoveries, but we’re harnessing the reach of hockey to inspire hope, unite communities, and create lasting impact far beyond the game.” KIM DAVIS, Senior Executive Vice President, National Hockey League (NHL) NHL + NHLPA | Hockey Fights Cancer ESPN’s collaboration with the NHL and NHLPA continued to demonstrate the power of aligned values and shared platforms. From Frozen Frenzy to Hockey Fights Cancer Month, integrated game coverage, features and athlete storytelling elevated awareness and fundraising. Alex Ovechkin’s GR8 Chase for Victory Over Cancer connects historic on-ice achievement with a deeply personal commitment to cancer research, reinforcing the emotional power of athlete-led advocacy. Since partnering with the V Foundation, the Hockey Fights Cancer initiative has raised more than $21.3 million over the past three seasons, with over $12.3 million directly funding game-changing cancer research through the V Foundation. The Foligno Face-Off was a community-driven fundraising campaign this past season supporting breast cancer research through the V Foundation for Cancer Research. Led by NHL veterans Nick Foligno and Marcus Foligno, the initiative mobilized the hockey community to rally around a shared mission: advancing life-saving cancer research in honor of their late mother, Janis Foligno. Fans participated by choosing “Team Nick” or “Team Marcus” and making donations that directly supported innovative breast cancer research projects. The friendly rivalry tapped into the passion of hockey fans while highlighting the brothers’ personal story and commitment to honoring their mother’s legacy. Through this campaign, supporters across the sport—from fans to players and partners—came together to transform competition into impact. 21
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