Beyond the Game: Pacers’ Pascal Siakam & former professional basketball player Dakota Whyte’s impact on sports, philanthropy, and education

A discussion on using athletic success to make an impact off the court on March 3 

Athletes have a unique platform that allows them to spotlight causes they are passionate about. Pascal Siakam of the Indiana Pacers and Dakota Whyte, a former college basketball standout and Canadian Youth Olympian, are using their on-court success to make an impact with the PS43 Foundation.

The Mays Family Institute on Diverse Philanthropy at the IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy will host a discussion with Siakam and Whyte on March 3, 2025 at 4:30 p.m. at Hine Hall on the Campus of IU Indianapolis. The pair will discuss how athletes have the opportunity to leverage their success to make an impact in their communities. They will also discuss the mission of the PS43 Foundation.

The PS43 Foundation is dedicated to empowering youth through education, life skills and mentorship. Siakam drew on inspiration from his late father when he started the foundation while playing for the Toronto Raptors. His late father, Tchamo Siakam, was passionate about education. The foundation’s name is not only represents Pascal’s jersey number, but also his family. The four represents his father and three brothers and the three represents his mother and two sisters.

Whyte’s journey to a career in sports philanthropy began on the court. Whyte was a Division 1 athlete at the University of Wisconsin, played professional basketball and worked for Nike, where she contributed to the intersection of sports, branding and community engagement. She earned her M.B.A. from Toronto Metropolitan University. 

Whyte is currently the Executive Director of the PS43 Foundation, where she champions initiatives that empower youth through education. She is also the founder of a sport philanthropy program dedicated to creating sustainable solutions that leverage the power of athletics for social good.

This event is free and open to the public. Registration is requested.

Sports and Philanthropy Initiatives from the Mays Family Institute

The Mays Family Institute on Diverse Philanthropy has several initiatives that provide research-based, practical instruction to athletes and leaders of sports organizations. The institute prepares them to use their philanthropic activities and enhanced leadership skills to have a positive impact across society, including on issues associated with racial injustice and social change. The skills and information they gain allow them to engage new external audiences within their local communities; help develop and cultivate national audiences; set an example of how philanthropy (including time, talent, treasure, and testimonies) has a positive impact on reducing systematic racial inequality; and demonstrate how sports can pave the way to a better future.

About the Mays Family Institute on Diverse Philanthropy
The Mays Family Institute on Diverse Philanthropy fosters a greater understanding of the ways in which underrepresented people are both inspired and informed donors by providing knowledge, education and training. The institute seeks to understand the perceptions, practices, experiences and needs of the individuals and institutions that operationalize philanthropy in underrepresented communities and develop programming and services to engage philanthropic practitioners, scholars and the public at large in conversations and activities to advance this field. Follow us on Twitter or “Like” us on Facebook.

About the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy
The Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy is dedicated to improving philanthropy to improve the world by training and empowering students and professionals to be innovators and leaders who create positive and lasting change. The school offers a comprehensive approach to philanthropy through its undergraduate, graduate, certificate and professional development programs, its research and international programs, and through The Fund Raising School, Lake Institute on Faith & Giving, Mays Family Institute on Diverse Philanthropy, Women’s Philanthropy Institute, and the Muslim Philanthropy Initiative. Follow us on X (formerly known as Twitter), LinkedIn, or Instagram and “Like” us on Facebook.