Team Freedom Continues to Gain Ground with the Addition of Two Pro Athlete Leaders
Former Major League Baseball (MLB) catcher Nick Hundley joins former National Football League (NFL) running back Donald Brown, both serving as Directors of Team Freedom for IJM. Following their professional athlete careers, where they were invested in IJM’s Team Freedom program as player partners, both Hundley and Brown are now stewarding their time and talents combatting violence against people in poverty as a part of IJM’s North America division.
In their roles, Hundley and Brown will represent IJM within the very pro athlete community they have been a part of. They will walk alongside athlete families, connecting the global need to combat modern-day slavery with the immense platform athletes have to raise their voice and lead the fight against slavery and violence.
“Having these athletes now leading our pro athlete program is a tremendous asset to IJM,” said Jaclynn Willert, Team Freedom Founder and Director. “We set out to ignite a global movement of justice-minded athletes in the fight to end human trafficking and slavery with the creation of Team Freedom. Donald and Nick bring deep relationship expertise, authenticity and exciting ideas about how to best leverage the power of Team Freedom players on behalf of the vulnerable. Our 2030 vision to protect 500 million people from violence requires significant leadership, and Hundley and Brown represent the next exciting chapter in Team Freedom.”
“Getting to work with NFL, NHL, Olympic and other North American athletes and families to determine how they can amplify and accelerate IJM’s work is gratifying,” said Donald Brown, Team Freedom Director. “Guys that I played with or up against in the NFL I now have the opportunity to come alongside to share in our common goal.”
“I learned about IJM’s Team Freedom when I was an active player in the MLB and saw the power and influence the professional athlete community could have when we rallied together,” said Nick Hundley, Team Freedom Director. “Now, transitioning full-time to IJM is an opportunity to marry my love of professional baseball with a mission that deeply resonates with my family and me.”
About International Justice Mission:
International Justice Mission is a global organization that protects people in poverty from violence. IJM partners with local authorities in 21 program offices in 13 countries to combat slavery, violence against women and children, and other forms of abuse against people who are poor. IJM works to rescue and restore victims, hold perpetrators accountable, and help strengthen public justice systems. Learn more at IJM.org.
About IJM’s Team Freedom Program:
Team Freedom, IJM’s team of pro athletes, has partners in the NFL, MLB, NHL, USWNT, NBA, CPL and Olympics who are committed to using the global power and influence of sport in IJM’s work to protect people in poverty from human trafficking, slavery and other forms of violence. Since Team Freedom’s launch in 2014, Team Freedom players and their families have advocated for survivors, traveled internationally to meet with IJM front line teams and global leaders, and brought the work of IJM in front of tens of millions of people. They have also raised significant funds to support the work - in 2020 alone, Team Freedom raised 3.5 million.
MEDIA INQUIRIES:
Maggie Cutrell
mcutrell@ijm.org
478-955-4666
