Ronnie Lott
Humanitarian, social-entrepreneur, activist, and concerned citizen of our global community. These are some of the descriptors most commonly used when referring to Ronnie Lott, a four-time Super Bowl champion and Pro Football Hall-of-Famer.
Lott’s accomplishments beyond the football field have exceeded his superb career as one of the most distinguished and identifiable defensive players in NFL history.
Lott’s commitment to serve others — a trademark of his humanitarian efforts — began during his NFL playing career when he learned that the success he had in football could feed his passion for helping others. In 1989, Lott and his wife Karen founded “All Stars Helping Kids,” (ASHK) a San Francisco Bay Area-based non-profit organization that supports underserved youth. ASHK has raised more than $30 million with a mission of disrupting the cycle of poverty by increasing the effectiveness of non-profits that focus on education, career readiness and the health and wellness of Bay Area youth. Additionally, ASHK has assisted in funding start-up businesses owned and operated by young people of color. It was named an outstanding charity by Catholic Charities in 2008.
In addition to his work at All Stars Helping Kids, Lott co-founded Champion Charities in 2004 with former teammate Harris Barton, after Barton lost both his parents to brain tumors. Brain tumors are one of the most lethal forms of cancer for children under the age of 15 and are also the leading cause of cancer-related death for adults 35 years and under. It is also one of the lowest funded areas of cancer research. Champion Charities was founded to change that and has contributed a significant amount of money for researching brain tumors as well as supporting patients suffering from the disease.
Lott has exercised his influence as a respected voice of the voiceless to address local, state and national civic leaders to advocate for the betterment of marginalized communities. He has been requested by several service organizations to address corporate and political leaders on their behalf. In addition to giving time and talents, Lott has demonstrated his commitment through his philanthropic involvement. During the COVID-19 epidemic, Lott worked with All Stars Helping Kids to send hand sanitizer to nonprofits and schools in the Bay Area. Lott’s emphasis on social justice and impact can be seen in his current project to bring key partners together including minority businesses and women’s groups to plan, strategize and manage the development of a state of the art facility that brings together sports, entertainment, food and agriculture.
Lott continues his activism while serving on a wide range of boards including Tipping Point Community, a grant-making organization aiming to break the cycle of poverty. His other boards include: SuRo Capital, Hall of Fame Health, Sutter Rock Capital, Multiplying Good Bay Area, Palo Alto Advisory, The Golden Heart Fund, True Capital Management, GSV Capital, and the Santa Clara University Board of Trustees.
