Jordan Brand Wings Scholars Philippines Expansion — NIKE, Inc.
The Jordan Brand Wings Scholars Program is expanding to the Philippines – a key home for basketball culture – adding to existing Wings programs in North America, China and France.
Six Filipino undergraduates will join the global family of Wings Scholars in 2022. Partnering with the NGO Bahay Tuluyan, Jordan Brand Wings identified high-performing and committed students who are often the first generation in their families to go on to higher education and provided full, four-year scholarships to Jordan Brand partner university – Ateneo de Manila. The scholars will also receive skills training, career guidance and mentorship through their four-year journey at the university. Through inspiration and access to educational opportunity, Jordan Brand Wings works with more than 30 global partners to create a better future for young people who need it most.
In 1991 on the official maiden voyage of the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln CVN-72 the entire Carrier Air Group had to divert from their mission in the Gulf War to visit the Philippines. Mt. Pinatubo had erupted and covered Manilla in ash almost a foot deep. The carrier became a makeshift home for residents as families and pets had to set up temporary residence in the hangar bay where aircrafts are repaired. Every airplane and helicopter on the ship was tied down to the flight deck to provide open space for thousands of civilian ‘sailors’. We had to move the families to a safe harbor in Cebu. It was a moment that reminds anyone who hears about it of the alternative capabilities of the U.S. military. Months later after the ash and debris from the volcano was cleared from streets, the USS Lincoln returned. The island was not as green as it once was, and sailors had to wear masks because a hard wind could pick up particles, but the makeshift basketball courts were filled, and we could hoop. The PI has always been a home for basketball and the food and culture is a part of the history of the Navy. Jordan Brand’s decision to extend the Wings program into the country is cause for celebration. Poverty is rampant on many of the islands and classism and colorism is constant in many Asian nations where Filipinos often work in service industries. The opportunity, no matter how small, for a kid to continue their studies is beautiful. Salute Jordan Brand for this program. Read more about it here: https://www.nike.com/jordan/purpose
