TULSA, Okla. — ImpactTulsa has been selected as a recipient of the 16th Round of NBA Foundation Grants, making it the only Tulsa-based organization chosen in this national funding round. The investment will directly support My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) Tulsa, strengthening efforts to put more boys and young men of color on clear pathways to education, workforce readiness, and long-term economic mobility.
Aligning Education, Workforce, and Community Systems for Youth Success
“The NBA Foundation partnership amplifies what we already see in the young people we serve—their brilliance, their vision for change, and their power to redefine what’s possible in North Tulsa,” said Ashley Philippsen, Executive Director of ImpactTulsa.
“By investing in MBK Tulsa at ImpactTulsa, the foundation helps ensure that every young person, whether they’re stepping onto the court, leading in their classroom, or building community on their campus, has access to the mentorship, career pathways, and opportunities they need to drive economic mobility for themselves and their families,” Philippsen added.
The funding advances MBK Tulsa’s work to improve outcomes across critical milestones from school attendance and graduation to postsecondary access and career preparation. Through coordinated partnerships with schools, employers, and community organizations, MBK Tulsa focuses on aligning systems so Tulsa’s boys and young men of color are supported at each stage of their development.
MBK Tulsa Leadership Highlights Impact of NBA Foundation Funding
“I am deeply honored by the opportunity to leverage funding from the NBA foundation to accelerate the reach and results of our work,” said BerThaddaeus Bailey, Managing Director of MBK Tulsa.
“This support allows more young men of color to explore purposeful pathways in growing fields, such as aviation, automated systems, and healthcare. This grant affirms what we see every day, that our boys are ambitious scholars, innovative thinkers, and architects of their own future. We are immensely grateful to the NBA Foundation for believing in their potential and investing in their purpose,” he added.
NBA Foundation Investment Advances Economic Mobility Efforts in Tulsa
The NBA Foundation invests in organizations nationwide that expand access to economic opportunity for youth through education and career pathways. For Tulsa, the funding represents a significant step in advancing coordinated strategies that support young people as they move toward economic independence.
ImpactTulsa explained that this collaborative effort will ensure this investment contributes to measurable progress and sustained opportunity as the organization works towards its goal of putting 15,000 additional youth on the path to economic mobility.
