LeanIn.Org, NBA, WNBA, and NBPA Launch Campaign with New Videos Highlighting Critical Role Men Play in Achieving Gender Equality

PALO ALTO, Calif., March 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- LeanIn.Org, in partnership with the National Basketball Association (NBA), the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), and the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA), launched a new public awareness campaign, with a PSA and online videos highlighting the critical role that men play in achieving gender equality.  Three vignettes highlight the personal stories of Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns), Jrue Holiday (New Orleans Pelicans), and Kyle Lowry (Toronto Raptors), and encourage fans to share their stories with players and teams directly on social media using the hashtag #LeanInTogether.

"Everyone benefits when men work towards equality," said Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook COO and founder of LeanIn.Org. "Men who are engaged fathers and dedicated partners at home have healthier and happier children and stronger relationships. Men who tap the full talents of the population at work outperform their peers. The research is clear––an equal world will be better for women and men. We're proud to partner with the NBA, because they believe in men leaning in to support the women and girls in their lives. That's how we get to a more equal world––together."

In this third successful #LeanInTogether campaign, the new videos highlight the personal stories of Lowry, Booker, and Holiday. Lowry shares why it's important to be an involved father for his sons and supportive of his wife, Ayanha; Holiday speaks about taking time off from basketball to care for his wife, Lauren, who had a benign brain tumor while pregnant with their daughter; and Booker shares why his relationship with his sister inspires him––and why getting to equality is so important. The PSA is available here, and the embed code <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/20vrJ08Pt4M" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>. The league will broadcast the video throughout the rest of the season.

"Emphasizing the value of teamwork is critically important on the court, in the office and at home," said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. "We're proud to launch the third edition of #LeanInTogether and continue to showcase ways in which men are supporting gender equality."

At leanin.org/nba visitors can access research-based tips to help men promote equality at home as an All-Star Dad and 50/50 Partner and at work as a Workplace MVP. The tips are based on expert research on the benefits of gender equality and are augmented by articles and videos. Visitors can register to receive a tip a week via text message or email. Men can also find articles and resources on how to role model equality everyday as a Stand Up Guy.

"Our continued partnership with the NBA is a powerful tool for engaging men about gender equality through the eyes of players," said LeanIn.Org co-founder and president Rachel Thomas. "We are excited to expand the focus to the fans themselves to hear how they support the women and girls in their lives."

Since 2015, millions of NBA fans have seen the #LeanInTogether PSAs on TV and at games. Players and coaches who have previously participated in the campaign include Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Gordon Hayward, Becky Hammon, Brad Stevens, and Paul George.

Why are efforts like #LeanInTogether so important? The world is far from equal. More than three decades after women became 50 percent of college graduates in the United States, they still constitute less than 6 percent of S&P 500 CEOs and hold only 19 percent of U.S. congressional seats. What's more, women hit the glass ceiling early. Based on findings in the Women in the Workplace study by LeanIn.Org and McKinsey & Company, men are 30 percent more likely than women to get the first critical promotion to manager. Even though 70 percent of women work outside the home, they continue to do a majority of the child care and housework.

Research shows that gender equality is good for everyone. Children with involved fathers are happier, healthier, and more successful. Couples who share responsibilities have stronger marriages. Diverse teams and companies produce better results. Men benefit directly from being active fathers and equal partners as well, enjoying better health, more personal happiness, and greater job satisfaction.

LeanIn.Org believes that men are a vital part of the gender equality equation. We hope that men everywhere will take this opportunity both to share their support for equality and learn and practice new skills. Men are encouraged to participate in the campaign by sharing a personal story about how they support the women in their lives using the hashtag #LeanInTogether.

QUOTES FROM BOOKER, HOLIDAY, AND LOWRY

"I always let my sister know she can be anything she wants to be," said Booker. "Every girl deserves the encouragement to know there are no ceilings on what they can achieve."

"Being involved in my kids' lives is the most important thing to me," said Lowry. "I'm proud to be a part of this campaign because I want to raise my sons to know that being a great man means respecting women."

"I'm proud to be a part of this campaign because my family is the most important team in my life," said Holiday. "My wife and I try to go 50/50 in everything that we do, and I want my daughter to grow up to know she can be anything she wants."

About LeanIn.Org
LeanIn.Org is an initiative of the Sheryl Sandberg & Dave Goldberg Family Foundation to empower all women to achieve their ambitions. LeanIn.Org offers inspiration and support through an online community, free education materials, and Lean In Circles, small peer groups that meet regularly to learn and grow together. The Lean In community includes more than 1.5 million women and men and 32,000 Lean In Circles in more than 150 countries. The Sheryl Sandberg and Dave Goldberg Family Foundation is a private operating non-profit organization under IRS section 501(c)(3).

About the NBA 
The NBA is a global sports and media business built around three professional sports leagues: the National Basketball Association, the Women's National Basketball Association, and the NBA Development League.  The league has established a major international presence with games and programming in 215 countries and territories in 49 languages, and NBA merchandise for sale in more than 125,000 stores in 100 countries on 6 continents.  NBA rosters at the start of the 2016-17 season featured a record 113 international players from 41 countries and territories.  NBA Digital's assets include NBA TV, NBA.com and the NBA App, which achieved record viewership and traffic during the 2015-16 season.  The NBA has created one of the largest social media communities in the world, with more than 1.3 billion likes and followers globally across all league, team, and player platforms.  Through NBA Cares, the league addresses important social issues by working with internationally recognized youth-serving organizations that support education, youth and family development, and health-related causes.

Contact: Brigit Helgen, [email protected]

SOURCE LeanIn.Org

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