Roy Kessel

Philanthropist and sports entrepreneur Roy Kessel has piloted several initiatives that seek to empower, inform, and provide opportunity for athletes at any level. His original career was in law but his true passion is for sports and business, two areas he is deeply involved in.

Roy Kessel earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree in marketing and finance from the University of Wisconsin. He then went on to Northwestern University School of Law where he obtained his J.D. At Northwestern, Kessel was an editor for the Northwestern Journal of International Law and Business and was highly involved in various student organizations. He picked up writing early on and continues to blog on his personal websites about experiences and sports-related ideas.

Roy Kessel is an active force in the sports industry, often in a behind-the-scenes capacity. He is a member of the National Sports Law Institute, American Bar Association’s Sports and Entertainment Forum, Sports Lawyers Association, and the National Sports Marketing Network. He understands the power of networking and continued education, which are just two reasons he pursues industry-specific connections with other professionals.

He practiced law for more than two decades, but his real calling was sports management, marketing, and outreach. Roy Kessel founded the Sports Philanthropy Network, an organization that hopes to help others empower youth sports and provide education and opportunity for young athletes. The proceeds from any events are turned around and used to support future work through various foundations. The Sports Philanthropy Network has three main initiatives:

-Education: Education stretches beyond the classroom. The Sports Philanthropy Network recognizes that one of the best motivators for learning is sports. The group works with organizations in order to leverage the power of athletics to encourage educational opportunities. These incentives, according to Kessel, are often enough to encourage youth to stay involved with their schooling.

-Opportunity: Roy Kessel understands that everyone has different levels of opportunity based on life experiences and particular situations. To level the playing field, he pushes for athletics that give kids the opportunities they need to stay engaged in education, develop social skills, and learn how to become athletes.

-Empowerment: Through athletics, the Sports Philanthropy Network helps athlete