Partnerships
BJKLI has proven to be an incredible ambassador and advisor to multiple corporate and sporting entities.
We believe that companies and their executives should hold themselves accountable by tracking results using comprehensive surveys and benchmarks.
We help organizations understand how they are doing, where they can improve, and who needs to improve.
BJKLI partners with Darden
The BJKLI has partnered with the University of Virginia Darden School of Business, one of the most respected business schools in the country, to produce a series of case studies focused on the business of sports, highlighting the unique leadership opportunities and challenges facing women in leadership.
The first of ten cases, Billie Jean King: Serving Up Leadership, is now available from Darden Business Publishing.
Cases in development consider issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the National Women’s Soccer League, the Women’s National Basketball Association, USA Gymnastics, and Nike, among other organizations, and topics will include issues in women’s athletic uniforms and outfits as well as efforts to attract and retain female talent.
BJKLI partners with ESPN
Beginning in 2019, BJKLI partnered with ESPN to present the annual Billie Jean King Youth Leadership Award during the ESPN Sport Humanitarian Awards. The Billie Jean King Youth Leadership Award recognizes a selection of high school and college-age individuals who use sport to create social good. Award recipients have the opportunity to attend the Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Award (ESPY) and receive a $10,000 scholarship to use toward college or a non-profit of their choice. In the years ahead, BJKLI and ESPN will work with Beyond Sport, a global organization that uses sport to address social issues, to ensure additional programming and support for the award recipients.
A Kids Book about equality
Billie Jean King wrote A Kids Book About Equality with Jelani Memory’s A Kids Company About. The book helps kids notice when things are unfair, empowers them to ask why, and shows them a way to do something about it. Equality is worth standing up for because each of us matters, and when we are all included and represented equally, we all thrive.
BJKLI and teneral cellars
The BJKLI partnered with Teneral Cellars, a purpose-driven, women-owned winery, to launch the “The Perfect Match” Collection to celebrate 50 years of Title IX and revolutionary equality bills that protect fundamental human rights serve as a means of protection for people who may face abuse or neglect because of their gender, sexuality, or race.
“The Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative is proud to partner with Teneral Cellars and use our collective platforms to advocate for equal rights and opportunities for everyone,” said Billie Jean King. “As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Title IX, we are reminded that while progress has been made, there is more work to do.”
BJKLI partners with SHESPOKE
Billie Jean King and the BJKLI partnered with SHESPOKE to create the Rally x BJK collection of lipstick and lipgloss! A portion of the proceeds from the Rally x BJK collection benefit the BJKLI.
Billie Jean said, “We wanted a strong color that really popped but was not over the top. The foundation of the color is a deep purple with a mix of red, coral and rose. We finished it off with a little bit of violet sparkle. We chose a purple base color for a few reasons. Purple is one of my favorite colors and purple is the color most closely associated with equality.”
BJKLI and Starbucks
Starbucks developed a set of principles and best practices designed to address systemic barriers impeding equal pay for equal work. We believe that companies around the globe should join us in adopting these principles and best practices. BJKLI collaborates with Starbucks to share lessons learned from their success in achieving gender and racial pay equity in the United States and encourages other companies to embrace the principles of pay equity by joining a coalition of corporate equity allies dedicated to making change.
Billie Jean King Cup Global Ambassador
Women’s tennis remains the leader of equality in women’s sports and the Billie Jean King Cup is the world’s largest annual women’s team sports competition. The women’s world cup of tennis, formerly the Fed Cup, was renamed the Billie Jean King Cup in 2020, marking the first time a major global team competition had been named after a woman. The Billie Jean King Cup is run by the International Tennis Federation (ITF), the world governing body of tennis. In 2019, the ITF named Billie Jean King its first Global Ambassador. The BJKLI works with the ITF on its Advantage All campaign to continue to drive equality and inclusion in the sport of tennis.
Billie Jean King Main Library
In 2019, Long Beach Community and City Council unanimously voted in favor of the brand-new Library being named the Billie Jean King Main Library.
Since it’s grand opening on September 21, 2019, the new Billie Jean King Main Library offers bright, welcoming, modern space and free programs, including services for veterans, immigrants, and special services for people with learning disabilities. The BJKLI continues to support this wonderful pinnacle of the community and education through fundraising events and grants.
Pride at U.S Open and Wimbledon
Photo One: Billie Jean King joins a panel with former NBA player Jason Collins, former MLB player Billy Bean, former ATP player Brian Vahaly, Olympic figure skating medalist Adam Rippon, and active WTA players and partners Greet Minnen and Alison Van Uytvanck.
Photo Two: Billie Jean King and Nick McCarvel joined forces with the AELTC, Pride Sports UK, and youth.
In advance of the 2019 US Open, the BJKLI in partnership with the USTA organized an inclusive PRIDE event on the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King Tennis Center. This public event brought athletes like former MLB player Billy Bean, former NBA star Jason Collins and current WTA players Alison Van Uytvanck and Greet Minnen, together with Billie Jean for a dialogue centered on the LGBTQ+ community. The athletes discussed the power of sports as a platform for advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community and how everyone can learn how to be an effective “ally”.
The BJKLI joined forces with Nick McCarville, AELTC, and Pride Sports UK to discuss issues of sports, sexuality, empowerment, and individuality in a Wimbledon-first ‘Inclusive Leadership’ event ahead of the 2019 Wimbledon Championships. This event encouraged LGBTQ+ youth to be their authentic selves and provided them with the opportunity to interact and learn from people and organizations that they can turn to in times of need.
BJKLI and Mattel
BJKLI partners with Mattel as part of their “Inspiring Women Series” of Barbie dolls. Mattel’s Inspiring Women Barbie Doll collection pays tribute to women throughout history who have broken boundaries and shaped history. The BJKLI and Mattel promote the doll series to inspire the next generation to define their own path forward. The Billie Jean King Barbie features the doll in an outfit, glasses and sneakers based on Billie Jean King’s victory during the 1973 “Battle of the Sexes” match against Bobby Riggs.
BJK Collection at New-York Historical Society
Providing global access and awareness to her story of leadership and social impact, the Billie Jean King’s archive collection features some of her captivating objects, including a pair of her Billie Jean King-brand Adidas sneakers from the 1970s, a Ted Tinling dress worn at Wimbledon in 1982, and mementos from the legendary “Battle of the Sexes” match against Bobby Riggs in 1973. The artifacts illuminate King’s athletic career and her place in the broader fight for equality and the larger narrative of women’s history.