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CoPeace to Sponsor NABC Service and Advocacy Awards at NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four

March 29, 2022


CoPeace and CoPeace Sport Will Also Unveil a New “Coaching for Impact” Package at the Men’s Final Four

DENVER (Date) – CoPeace, a diversified holding company that invests in growing companies demonstrating both positive measurable social and environmental impact and strong fiscal health, announced today a presenting sponsorship of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Guardians of the Game Awards for Advocacy and Service.  The awards will be presented on April 1 in New Orleans during the NABC Convention Opening Ceremony.

Guardians of the Game is a national awareness and education program of the NABC.  The goal of the program is to focus attention on the positive aspects of basketball and the important role coaches play in the lives of student-athletes and in their communities.

The sponsorship is an ideal fit for CoPeace and its subsidiary CoPeace Sport.  The two organizations have jointly announced a new “Coaching for Impact” package which will be unveiled at the Men’s Final Four.  The package was designed to make it easier for coaches to participate in a variety of activities for good.  “Coaching for Impact” will help coaches align their personal values with sustainable impact opportunities, while boosting their brand equity in the process.

“We are honored to be partnering with the NABC on their Guardians of the Game Awards for advocacy and service, shedding light on the importance of bringing college basketball and societal impact together on a grand scale,” says Craig Jonas, Founder and CEO of CoPeace.

The NABC has long encouraged basketball coaches to serve the greater community in ways that elevate moral, ethical and educational values.  As such, the partnership with CoPeace is a natural fit.

“The NABC and CoPeace share a mutual commitment to make an impact off the court,” said NABC Executive Director, Craig Robinson. “We are grateful for the support of CoPeace to elevate our NABC Guardians of the Game Awards.”

CoPeace is presenting the NABC Guardians of the Game Award for Service to Mike Shult, Edgewood College Director of Basketball Operations.  Shult has made a lifetime of impact on Coaches vs. Cancer, the joint initiative between the NABC and the American Cancer Society that to date has raised over $140 million in the fight against cancer.  He is a founding member of the Coaches vs. Cancer Wisconsin Board of Ambassadors – a chapter that has raised more than $8.8 million and annually holds the largest Coaches vs. Cancer Gala in the country.  Shult also serves on the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Action Network and North Region Volunteer Cabinet.

The winner of the NABC Guardians of the Game Award for Advocacy presented by CoPeace is Ohio Wesleyan head coach Mike DeWitt.  DeWitt has been an instrumental voice in Division III basketball during his 23 years on the Ohio Wesleyan sidelines, serving terms on the NCAA DIII Men’s Basketball Regional Advisory Committee and DIII Men’s Basketball Selection Committee. In the 2012-13 season, DeWitt was chair of the selection committee, leading the group’s oversight of the selection process and championship operations.

About CoPeace and CoPeace Sports

CoPeace is a forward-thinking holding company, building a portfolio of carefully selected for-profit companies with measurable social and environmental impact. CoPeace is democratizing the investment world by allowing everyone, not just wealthy investors, to invest in private impact companies via its holding company structure.  As a designated Certified B Corp and a public-benefit corporation (PBC), CoPeace is committed to acting morally, ethically and responsibly in regard to society, the environment, the natural world and the world at large

CoPeace Sport PBLLC (CoSpo) assists athletes, coaches, and sport organizations in maximizing their ability to positively impact society.  CoSpo uses expertise in sport, media, marketing, and finance to increase clients’ brand equity and aligns personal and organizational values with sustainable impact opportunities.

To learn more about CoPeace and CoPeace Sport, and how you can grow your money for good, visit copeace.com.

About the NABC 

The National Association of Basketball Coaches was founded in 1927 by Phog Allen, the legendary coach at the University of Kansas. Allen, a student of James Naismith, the inventor of basketball, organized coaches into this collective group to serve as Guardians of the Game. Guided by the core values of leadership, advocacy, service, education and inclusion, the NABC works to further the best interests of the game of basketball and the players and coaches who participate in the sport. Nearly 5,000 coaches representing all levels of collegiate, scholastic and youth basketball hold NABC memberships. For more information about the NABC, visit nabc.com