MSE builds on longstanding philanthropic commitment, with a sustained focus on expanding access to youth sports
WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 17, 2026) — In recognition of National Nonprofit Day, Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE), the Leonsis Family and Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation (MSEF) proudly reflect on another year of philanthropic giving and community impact, including youth sports programming benefitting kids, families and coaches across Washington, D.C. through MSE’s multi-year, multi-million-dollar District of Play initiative.
The season’s impact earned MSE recognition as a 2026 Top Corporate Philanthropist by the Washington Business Journal and the Greater Washington Community Foundation’s 2026 Spirit of Philanthropy Award.
Building on that momentum, MSE, its teams and MSEF will enter the 2026–27 season with a sustained, enterprise-wide focus on youth sports. The organization will closely align philanthropic investments and community programs around expanding access to sports, reducing barriers to participation and helping young people thrive, while continuing to support health and wellness, food security, education and other critical community needs across the DMV. That focus is already taking shape through new, research-driven initiatives, including a recently released independent study on D.C.’s youth sports gender gap and a new effort to reduce barriers to participation for girls in Wards 7 and 8.
“We’ve always believed in a double bottom line: doing well as a business means also doing good in our community,” said Ted Leonsis, Founder, Chairman, Managing Partner and CEO of Monumental Sports & Entertainment. “Supporting kids, families and coaches across the District at this scale shows what’s possible when we put the full strength of Monumental behind a shared purpose. We’re building on that momentum with a sharp focus on youth sports and an enduring commitment to the communities we serve.”
To kick off the new season, MSE is extending its longstanding partnership with MedStar Health through a $1.1 million gift supporting families, particularly infants and children, across Washington, D.C. The funding supports maternal health services, like the Safe Babies Safe Moms program, and the Kids Mobile Medical Clinic, which provides free primary care to 800 children annually in Wards 6 and 7. The gift is part of MSE’s five-year commitment and brings its support for MedStar Health initiatives to more than $8 million since 2019.
2025–26 Community Impact Highlights
Throughout the season, MSE and MSEF supported organizations addressing youth development, food insecurity and other essential needs across the region, while employees, athletes and team personnel contributed through giving, volunteerism and community programs. Monumental also used its teams, venues and media platforms to amplify nonprofit partners and charitable campaigns.
Philanthropic highlights from the 2025-26 season include:
District of Play: MSE’s multi-year youth sports initiative benefitted kids, families and coaches across the District through programs including District Kicks, which provided more than 6,000 DC Public Schools (DCPS) students with free Under Armour athletic footwear, alongside other targeted youth sports programming and investments.
Girls Empowerment: MSE expanded investments addressing D.C.’s youth sports participation gender gap including the EquipHER program that provided 13,000+ free sports bras to female athletes across 39 DCPS schools; a new girls empowerment program; and ongoing girls empowerment programming led by the Capitals, Wizards and Mystics.
Youth facilities: Alongside court refurbishments and support for local ice rinks, MSEF completed its 13th annual playground build with KABOOM!, bringing together more than 100 volunteers and athletes to build the first playground at The Children’s Guild DC.
Food insecurity: In November 2025, MSEF provided $100,000 in grants to local nonprofits addressing food insecurity in the DMV, helping meet the needs of individuals and families across the region.
Employee Resource Groups: Through eight distinct Employee Resource Groups, MSE staff helped donate $80,000 supported in part by generous donations from the Leonsis Family, 400+ volunteer hours, and 1,000+ donation drive items to various community organizations serving the D.C. region.
Across these efforts:
– MSE employees, athletes, alumni and volunteers contributed more than 1,000 volunteer hours.
– Monumental’s digital, in-venue and broadcast platforms amplified nonprofit partners and charitable campaigns across the region.
– Game-day 50/50 raffles raised more than $1M for MSEF’s charitable efforts.
Through this work, MSE remains committed to using the collective reach of its teams, people, platforms and resources to create lasting impact across the communities it calls home.
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About Monumental Sports & Entertainment
Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE) is one of the leading integrated sports and entertainment companies globally. MSE’s portfolio spans premier professional sports teams, world-class venues, and next-generation media properties, with marquee assets including the NHL’s Washington Capitals, NBA’s Washington Wizards, WNBA’s Washington Mystics, NBA G League’s Capital City Go-Go, Capital One Arena, and Monumental Sports Network, along with an investment in Team Liquid.
Rooted in the nation’s capital, MSE brings Washington, D.C’s distinct influence, ambition, and leadership to the global sports and entertainment landscape. The company harnesses the power of its platform to drive continuous innovation and deliver extraordinary experiences that inspire and unite our community, our fans, and our people. For additional information on MSE, please visit monumentalsports.com.
About the Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation
MSE Foundation is committed to making the region a better place for all by supporting game-changing solutions for our community. We fundraise, provide grants to nonprofits and rally Monumental Sports & Entertainment’s teams and fans to support and amplify the impact of community change agents. Together, we’re raising the game in the DMV. Learn more at monumentalfoundation.org.
