DICK's Sporting Goods' Pays Tribute to Unsung Heroes who Change Communities

The transformative power of youth athletic programs is celebrated in the latest installment of DICK'S Sporting Goods 'Sports Change Lives' campaign. Directed by the Hudson Dusters of Greenpoint Pictures, the short film charts the inspirational story of Coach Donta Green and the Westinghouse Academy Bulldogs, the first recipients of The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation’s 75for75 Sports Matter Grant Program.

Inspirational and heart warming, the film praises triumph over adversity and each person's power to make a positive difference in the world. The film opens on a shot of the rusted steel underbelly of a bridge, giving the viewer a sense of life in Homewood, Pennsylvania, which experienced a profound economic downturn after the closing of the local steel mills in the 1980s. The unvarnished look of the town is juxtaposed against the impassioned and galvanising spirit of Coach Donta Green, who holds the reins of the football team at Westinghouse Academy. Last year, Coach Donta led the Bulldogs in an astonishing run to the State Championship after an undefeated season. Aware of the hardship players face in the community, the Coach and his staff provide belief, support, mental toughness, and structure to their lives. Beyond just a team, Coach Donta is building a family and a path of opportunity for the underserved youth of Homewood. 

"We love making pieces that celebrate people like Coach Donta Green - everyday heroes who genuinely change kids' lives daily and the whole community in the process. We wanted to do him justice with a film that he, his kids, and his community could be proud of forever. Something that lasts," says Michael Kuhn of the Hudson Dusters. 

Launching in honour of DICK’S 75th anniversary, The DICK'S Sporting Goods Foundation 75for75 Sports Matter Grant Program will select 75 deserving youth sports organizations nationwide a $75,000 grant in 2023. As the first recipient of the grant, Westinghouse will use the funds to continue changing their players' futures. 

The Hudson Dusters were an Old New York gang who ran the city's West Side from the Five Points to Hell's Kitchen. Since their first days directing AND1 basketball mixtapes on the streets and courts of New York and Brooklyn, Michael Kuhn and Niles Roth have channelled the rule-breaking energy of their namesakes. Early on, they committed themselves to always delivering a refined and effective final product. They believe that blood, sweat, and tears are often shed to make the best work, and they have carried that early passion into their present work.