Beyond charity, Russell Wilson and Ciara are building a brighter future for children with 3 youth centers and $5.5 million in gifts
Through the Why Not You Foundation, which they founded in 2014, the couple supports children’s education, health care and efforts to fight poverty. Their recent work includes a $3 million gift to Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital in New York, a $500,000 contribution toward food assistance in Atlanta and a $2 million donation to the Los Cabos Children’s Foundation in Mexico. Russell Wilson and Ciara established the Why Not You Foundation in 2014. One of the foundation’s major recent contributions came in November 2025, when Wilson and Ciara announced a $3 million gift to Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital in New York City. In February 2026, the foundation pledged $2 million to the Los Cabos Children’s Foundation in Baja California Sur. In December 2025, it announced a $500,000 donation to the Atlanta Community Food Bank and ATL Cares to help families facing food insecurity. Together, these three announced gifts total $5.5 million. Its published impact information lists three Why Not You Centers opened by 2025. The first center opened in Pittsburgh in 2024, followed by locations in Atlanta and Pasadena in 2025. In 2020, Wilson and Ciara contributed approximately $1.75 million through their foundation to support the school’s launch and rebranding. The academy was designed to serve students facing barriers to educational opportunities and offered learning programs for grades nine through 12. At one point, enrollment reached nearly 200 students. Reports in 2025 showed that enrollment had fallen to 65 students.
The amount covers the specific contributions announced for Mount Sinai, Atlanta food assistance and the Los Cabos Children’s Foundation.
Reports at the time said the contribution was expected to provide more than one million additional meals during the holiday season. Russell Wilson and Ciara have built successful careers in football and music, but their work away from the spotlight has also become an important part of their public lives. They have also supported youth centers and educational programs, although the closure of a school connected to their mission shows that creating lasting change can be difficult. These projects offer a closer look at how the NFL quarterback and singer are using their resources to support children and families. The nonprofit focuses on education, children’s health, and fighting poverty. Its work also includes food security and programs designed to help girls and young women develop leadership skills. The foundation’s name comes from a question Wilson’s father used to ask him: “Why not you? The message encouraged Wilson to believe in his abilities and consider what he could achieve. Its work covers several areas rather than focusing on a single cause. The foundation supports organizations and programs working with children, including Boys & Girls Clubs, Friends of the Children and the V Foundation for Cancer Research. This approach allows the foundation to support different needs, from education and mentorship to health care and food assistance. However, its overall impact cannot be measured by the number of causes it supports alone. Published figures on program participation, outcomes and long-term progress are also important when assessing how much difference these projects make. The donation supports patient and family programs, including therapeutic spaces for children receiving medical treatment. The gift includes support for the Child Life Zone Theater and Play Space in the Jack Martin Fund Inpatient Unit for Children’s Cancer and Blood Disease. These spaces are designed to give young patients opportunities to play and take part in activities during their hospital stays. The couple also directed funding toward children’s health services in Mexico. The donation is intended to expand health care, nutrition, preventive care and rehabilitation services for children and families. Food assistance is another part of the foundation’s work. It does not represent the foundation’s total charitable spending. The donations also address different needs. The hospital gift supports children receiving treatment, the Mexico contribution focuses on health and rehabilitation services, and the Atlanta donation aims to help families access food. The Why Not You Foundation has also invested in community spaces where young people can access educational and recreational activities. The centers operate through partnerships with local Boys & Girls Clubs. Their programs include academic support, sports, creative activities and opportunities for personal development. The aim is to provide young people with access to resources and activities within their communities. Working with existing organizations also gives the foundation a way to support programs that already have local connections. Rather than creating an entirely separate network, the centers operate alongside community groups that provide services to children and young people. However, the number of centers does not tell the full story. Figures showing how many children attend, how often they participate and what results they achieve would help readers understand their direct impact. Those details are important when measuring whether the centers are meeting their goals. The foundation’s education work also includes Why Not You Academy, a tuition-free charter public high school in Des Moines, Washington. However, the school later faced falling enrollment and financial and academic challenges. Why Not You Academy’s closure is an important part of the foundation’s educational record. The school also faced concerns about attendance, graduation rates and its financial position.
Today, the foundation uses the same idea to encourage young people to pursue opportunities and build confidence in their future.
The academy recorded a four-year graduation rate of 62%, while only 12% of students attended at least 90% of school days during the last reported academic year, according to local reporting. The school board voted to close the academy in November 2025, citing declining enrollment and concerns about its financial and operational position. The school subsequently closed at the end of the 2025–26 school year. Its $5.5 million in recently announced gifts and three youth centers opened by 2025 provide measurable examples of that work. Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news , check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule .
These figures formed part of the wider concerns about the school’s performance. The closure does not mean that all the foundation’s educational efforts have failed. Its youth centers and other partnerships continue to form part of its broader mission. However, the academy’s experience shows why donations alone cannot guarantee the long-term success of an educational project. Join conversation Share your thoughts in the comments Be respectful · TOI community guidelines Schools need stable enrollment, strong management, financial planning and consistent academic support. They also need to track attendance, graduation rates and student progress to understand whether their programs are working. For Wilson and Ciara, the foundation remains a way to direct resources toward children and families through education, health care and community programs. The next important measure will be the results these projects achieve over time. Information about the number of children served, improvements in access to care and education, and the long-term performance of community programs will help show how effectively the foundation is meeting its goals. Its work offers examples of how public figures can support important causes, while the academy’s closure is a reminder that lasting change requires more than funding and visibility. Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.