What These Dinners Are — and Aren’t
They are not galas. They’re not transactional networking events. Coalition dinners are curated, conversation-driven evenings where the people at the table share a genuine commitment to youth health, equity, and community — and where those shared values become the foundation for lasting partnership.
Every dinner is organized around one question: Who needs to be in the same room, and what becomes possible when they are?
Who Attends
Coalition dinners bring together:
- Major individual and family donors
- Corporate and foundation leaders
- Municipal officials and school district administrators
- Youth-serving nonprofit leaders
- Athletes, coaches, and sports executives
- Media and policy influencers
- Community advocates
Attendance is by invitation only. If you are interested in attending a future dinner, contact us to be considered for the guest list.
The Format
Each dinner is hosted in a city where Playing for Keeps has active or developing work. Evenings include:
- A welcome and overview of Playing for Keeps’ national mission and local impact
- Remarks from Dr. Mimi Nartey
- A featured conversation or presentation from a local partner, community leader, or award honoree
- Dinner and facilitated cross-sector conversation
- A specific call to action — a field to fund, a policy to support, a partnership to formalize
Past Dinners
Los Angeles, CA — September 25, 2026
Oakland, CA — September 4, 2026
Atlanta, GA — September 1, 2026
2026 Awards Dinner & Fundraiser
Join us on December 3rd from 5 to 11 PM for an evening built for impact — a silent auction stacked with once-in-a-lifetime sports and travel experiences, a room full of people who believe a play field can change a community, and the kind of night that marks not just a celebration, but a commitment. Because this isn’t just an awards dinner or fundraising event. It’s the first chapter of something built to last.
Be there for the inaugural Playing for Keeps Awards Dinner & Fundraiser — where the game starts, and the real win is what we build for the kids who come after us.
Upcoming Events, Field Installations & Coalition Dinners
Change doesn’t happen behind a desk. It happens in neighborhoods, at city halls, on school grounds, and in the streets. Join us at our upcoming events — and see where we’ve already shown up to create access to play for every child.
2026 Awards Dinner & Fundraiser
Atlanta, GA
Vincent Country Safe Zone Activity Day
Coming Soon
We’re convening donors, advocates, policymakers, and partners at invitation-only coalition dinners in cities across the country. Los Angeles. New York. Oakland. Atlanta. More to come.
Bring a Dinner to your city
Is your city next? If you are interested in hosting or sponsoring a coalition dinner in your market, we want to hear from you. Dinner sponsorships are available and offer significant brand visibility and relationship-building opportunities in your local and regional networks.
Contact us about hosting or sponsoring a dinner!
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