EXCLUSIVE: Stephen Curry And Rakuten Partner To Create The Perfect Day For Bay Area Youth
A four-time NBA champion, a two-time league MVP, a nine-time All-Star, the NBA’s all-time leader in three-pointers made and this past year’s Finals MVP. With all of these accolades, as well as many more, Stephen Curry has truly had one of the most complete careers in NBA history with the Golden State Warriors.
While he may currently be on the sideline for the Warriors due to a lower left leg injury, this has not stopped Curry from being the gift that keeps on giving both in the league and in his community.
On Monday, February 27, Steph Curry continued his efforts to be the league’s biggest philanthropist when he and Rakuten, the leading shopping destination for cash back and rewards and one of Golden State’s main sponsors, created a one-day-only shopping experience for twenty kids from the Bay Area community, giving them the shopping spree of their dreams at the Warriors Shop in Chase Center. Rakuten provided a $250 gift card per person to shop onsite, and many of the kids were quick to grab their favorite player’s jersey, with a lot of them choosing No. 30 off the hangers, Steph’s jersey. However, the gift cards were not the only surprise for them.
The catch: the kids had no idea Steph would be making an appearance and he even went undercover as a store employee to try and fool them!
Working behind the counter at the cash register in a disguise of glasses, a hat and dreadlocks for hair, Curry was not noticed at first, but then the group quickly realized it was him and their reactions were priceless.
“Supporting the local community with this event is exciting and important to me because we are giving kids an amazing and memorable experience and sharing joy with them,” Curry stated in regards to creating this event with Rakuten. “I think that is what it is all about in terms of making them feel seen.”
Taking off his goofy disguise to surprise the kids, Curry was met with a flurry of cheers, screams and a level of excitement only a child can provide. Not only did he make an appearance at the event to shop with the kids, but Steph also went out of his way to play games with everyone there and help them look for their favorite gear around the store, giving them the perfect day they always dreamed about.
“I think the kids should be looking for their favorite jersey, I know we have a lot to choose from,” Curry noted. “Maybe some Curry shoes because I know there are some on the shelves! But I don’t think they can make a wrong decision with the gear that they pick. You gotta just find your style and go with it!”
The Warriors have had a long-standing partnership with Rakuten for many years and renewed their historic multi-year partnership in May 2022, which is why Rakuten is the main sponsor on the top of all of Golden State’s jerseys.
“Since the inception of our momentous partnership, Rakuten has proven to be an incredible partner,” Brandon Schneider, Warriors President and Chief Operating Officer, said back in 2022 when this partnership was renewed. “Our relationship is steeped in mutual respect, aligned values and a strong drive to innovate. Over the last five years, we have reached historic milestones through enhanced player and fan experiences around the world. As we embark on the next phase of this partnership, we will continue to introduce and drive Warriors fans to utilize the Rakuten program to enhance their shopping experience. We look forward to providing more historic moments and engaging experiences for our fans worldwide.”
Rakuten partnered with Stephen Curry in 2019 when the nine-time All-Star became a Global Brand Ambassador for the company. The two sides have built a platform through the years that has allowed for the creation of multiple basketball camps, as well as philanthropic events such as the one on Monday.
Steph Curry has made it a personal mission to give back to the society he lives in, which is why he formed the Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation in 2019 with his wife Ayesha, which fights to end childhood hunger, ensuring students have access to a quality education and providing safe places for all children to play and be active.
Black Cultural Zone, a main partner for Curry’s Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation, has been an East Oakland community staple since 2014, working with organizations, churches, government agencies and more to keep legacy communities thriving by centering Black Arts and Culture within a community development framework. Given Rakuten, Stephen Curry, and the Golden State Warriors’ shared commitment to supporting their local communities and empowering youth, they collaborated with Black Cultural Zone to give attendees this once-in-a-lifetime experience during the shopping spree.
“My heart just stopped for a minute,” one of the lucky shoppers said with a massive smile on his face when asked about Stephen Curry’s surprise. “I was like… wow. I was completely in shock. It was just shocking for me.”
He may be known for being an MVP player on the basketball court, but to all of these kids, Curry remains an MVP for them in their daily lives because of his philanthropic acts.
Monday’s event is something that will never escape these kids’ minds and for Stephen Curry and Rakuten, they will continue their partnership together, positively impacting the community around them for years to come.
Photos: Golden State Warriors (3)
For more information on Rakuten, the leading shopping destination for cash back and rewards, click here.
