The AU Book of Unlimited sitting on a pedestal with three medals.

Athletes Unlimited Announces 2026 Civic Leadership Award Voting Committee

Siera Jones

Jan 20, 2026

Athletes Unlimited has announced details for the 2026 Civic Leadership Award, which will be presented to one athlete across all three sports and unveiled during the Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball season in Nashville.

The Civic Leadership Award recognizes an Athletes Unlimited athlete each year for meaningful civic leadership efforts both during the season and in the off-season. Athletes may nominate themselves or their peers, highlighting leadership demonstrated through Athlete Causes, volunteerism, community service, fundraising, voter engagement, advocacy, and other forms of civic impact within and beyond Athletes Unlimited programming.

2026 Civic Leadership Award Voting Committee

Johari Matthews

Johari Matthews serves as Vice President and Executive Director of ONE Community and the Tennessee Titans Foundation. Now in her fourth season, she has helped reshape the Titans’ community engagement efforts, including the launch of ONE Community, a platform focused on reducing barriers across opportunity, neighborhoods, and education. A Nashville native and Tennessee State University alumna, Matthews has nearly two decades of nonprofit leadership experience and has been recognized as a 2025 Community Gamechanger and one of Nashville’s Most Powerful Women.

Sarah Spain

Sarah Spain is an Emmy and Peabody Award-winning sports journalist, host of Good Game with Sarah Spain, and Content Director of the iHeart Women’s Sports Network. She spent more than 15 years at ESPN and continues to contribute to espnW and women’s sports coverage. Spain is the author of Runs In The Family, a former minority owner of the Chicago Red Stars, and a Cornell University graduate, where she competed as a heptathlete and served as a team captain.

Beth Brooke

Beth Brooke serves on the boards of The New York Times Company, eHealth, ULSE, Project Level, Lehigh Valley Health Network, SHEEX, and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee. She is a member of the Knight Commission and Co-Chair of WomenDriveToo. Brooke founded the Women Athletes Business Network, is a recipient of the NCAA’s Theodore Roosevelt Award, a member of the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame, and an advisor to Athletes Unlimited.

The Civic Leadership Award reflects Athletes Unlimited’s continued commitment to athlete-driven impact, recognizing leaders who use their platform to create meaningful change in their communities.