NBA legend Dwyane Wade is leveraging his influence through an online community dedicated to transgender youth and their families.
On Thursday, Wade received the Elevate Prize Catalyst Award at The Elevate Prize Foundation’s Make Good Famous Summit in South Florida, which comes with $250,000 in unrestricted funding.
Wade received the award in recognition of his advocacy for the transgender community and his work with the Wade Family Foundation.
Following his acceptance of the award, Wade announced the launch of Translatable.
Translatable: A Safe Space For Transgender Youth
Translatable, funded by the Wade Family Foundation, is a digital platform that will serve as a safe community space for trans youth to express themselves and provide educational tools for their support systems.
Wade’s inspiration for Translatable came from his daughter Zaya, who came out as transgender in 2020.
Zaya’s experiences and challenges in an increasingly hostile environment for transgender individuals, especially in states like Florida, motivated Wade to take action.
“I am honored to accept the Elevate Prize Catalyst Award and share this honor with my daughter, Zaya, who has served as the catalyzing force behind Translatable,” said Wade, according to a press release.
“We hope that Translatable provides our youth with a community to support their growth, mental health, and well-being, and that this space ignites more conversation leading to greater understanding and acceptance.”
Looking Ahead: Support from the Community
The impact of Wade’s efforts extends beyond financial support as Translatable has also received backing from prominent organizations like the Human Rights Campaign and The Trevor Project.
The Elevate Prize Foundation also donated to the initiative after learning about Wade’s plans.
“We are honored to present this award to Dwyane Wade and support him and the Wade Family Foundation with the launch of Translatable,” said Carolina Garcia Jayaram, CEO of the Elevate Prize Foundation.
“Dwyane’s tireless dedication to the trans community and racial justice has illuminated the path toward a more inclusive future.”
Image credit: US Weekly
