Inside The Panthers

Pitt Football and Basketball Combine to Help Aaron Donald

A Pitt football and basketball player teamed up for a great cause.

Stephen Thompson

Pitt Football and Basketball Combine to Help Aaron Donald
Pitt Football and Basketball Combine to Help Aaron Donald /
In this story:

PITTSBURGH -- Recently liberalized Name, Image and Likeness rights for college athletes have allowed them to earn massive sums of money from boosters and businesses. With all of the money that is floating around primarily in college football and basketball, NIL collectives, which funnels money from the wealthy supporters to athletes, have popped up at schools across America. The Pitt Panthers have a NIL Collective - Alliance 412 - but it hasn't limited itself to simply handing out rich endorsement deals. 

A pair of Panther athletes volunteered their time to former Pitt great and current NFL star Aaron Donald's non-profit, AD99 Solutions, on Saturday. The organization hosted what it called a Mental Flex Forum, which "worked with Pittsburgh's underserved youth and discussed the importance of mental wellness", according to a Tweet from Alliance 412. 

Pitt football's Calijah Kancey and John Hugley served as panelists and volunteers for the event alongside Donald. 

Enjoyed volunteering my time today for @ad99solutions #mentalflexforum," Kancey wrote on Twitter. "Happy to serve as a positive role model for other student-athletes. Thank you @alliance412 for connecting me with this opportunity."

This isn't the first time that Kancey has worked with Alliance 412 for a charitable cause. Last month, when Alliance 412 officially launched, Kancey partnered with the NIL collective to rally donations for the North Shore Food Pantry, which is within walking distance from Heinz Field. 

Alliance 412, which is unaffiliated with the Unversity of Pittsburgh, was founded in April by Pitt alum and booster Chris Bickell. It hopes to "bridge the divide between the University of Pittsburgh student-athletes, brands, influencers, businesses, charitable organizations, and the community to develop and creatively execute Name, Image, and Likeness opportunities." 

Make sure you bookmark Inside the Panthersfor the latest news, exclusive interviews, recruiting coverage and so much more!

Kenny Pickett Tried to Recruit Conner Hayward to Pitt - Twice

Pat Narduzzi, Jeff Capel Highest-Paid Pitt Employees of 2021

Pitt Lands WR Walk-On

Former Pitt LB Chase Pine Receives Tryout Invite from Steelers

ACC Commissioner on When Conference Will Remove Divisions

Jordan Addison Sets Official Visit to USC

ACC Commissioner Talks NCAA Future With NIL

Published
Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper.  He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press.  During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general.  You can reach Stephen by email at stephenethompson00@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter. Read his latest work:

Home/News