NEW YORK, Aug. 10, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Yellowbrick, the New York-based education platform that partners with leading universities and brands to develop online courses focused on creative industries, announced that it has partnered with CloseUp360, the world’s first dedicated multimedia platform focused on NBA players and insiders, and their impact off the court. Through this partnership, Yellowbrick will offer named scholarships to its educational programs in concert with the release of special projects—the first coming from Caron Butler.
Butler, a 14-year veteran of the NBA who has since become a positive force in the realms of social justice and community impact, is releasing a special video feature that was recorded during his return trip to his hometown of Racine, Wisconsin, for Juneteenth this year. Through the CloseUp360 partnership with Yellowbrick, viewers of the feature will be invited to participate in Butler’s essay contest, from which 25 scholarship winners will be selected.
These scholarships will apply to any Yellowbrick program: Sneaker Essentials, Fashion Industry Essentials, Streetwear Essentials, Music Industry Essentials, Fundamentals of Global Sports Management, Gaming and Esports Industry Essentials, Beauty Industry Essentials, and Hospitality and Tourism Industry Essentials.
«CloseUp360 brings to life the highly personal, passionate stories and projects of NBA stars. As such, they’re a perfect partner for us,» said Dion Walcott, VP of Brand Partnerships at Yellowbrick. «Caron’s feature in particular, with its community focus and social justice message, maps perfectly to our focus on education and creative cultural awareness.»
Butler has been hosting the NBA’s virtual roundtables on social justice and recorded a remote chat for CloseUp360’s «Hoopers Meet Heroes» series with his 7th grade English teacher from Racine—simultaneously highlighting the importance of educators while spotlighting his hometown community. This chat will immediately follow the feature’s premiere and will include details about the essay contest and scholarship opportunity.
«CloseUp360 was launched with the goal of becoming the best off-the-court storytelling platform for basketball players in one of the world’s fastest-growing sports.» CloseUp360’s Brand Partnerships Director Rama Raju said. «Yellowbrick is leading the way with innovative partnerships to create educational opportunities that will empower students to pursue their dreams. CloseUp360 is dedicated to working with Yellowbrick to shine a spotlight on these opportunities to inspire the next generation of leaders in communities all across the country.»
The feature will debut on Monday, August 10, on CloseUp360 and Butler’s microsite with Yellowbrick: http://www.yellowbrick.co/closeup360-caron-butler. The feature will also have a television premiere on Wednesday, August 12, through CloseUp360’s partner PlayersTV, available on the Samsung TV Plus platform in the U.S., Canada and the UK. Later this month, the feature will be shown through CloseUp360’s other digital and social partners, Ball is Life and ClutchPoints.
About Yellowbrick
Yellowbrick’s platform empowers motivated learners to explore their passions. We’ve partnered with the best brands in media, culture, and education, to develop online courses that demystify industries like Music, Fashion, Sneakers, Sports, and Hospitality. Together, we’re helping a new generation of talent discover career paths that are aligned with the things they love. Find out more at http://www.yellowbrick.co.
CloseUp360
CloseUp360 is a lifestyle media platform and production company for all basketball players, with a primary focus on the NBA—from the stars and role players to the international standouts. CloseUp360 offers an immersive look inside players’ lives outside the lines. Topics include players’ journeys, personal branding, career development, hometown impact, international growth, and lifestyle interests. Learn more at http://www.closeup360.com and @CloseUp360 on social media.
SOURCE Yellowbrick
