The sports network that is ESPN’s largest market and one of the most visible in the country is stepping up its support for the Syrian crisis by giving money to refugees who are trying to find work in America.
The network’s top executives and senior executives have visited refugee camps in Turkey and Jordan to help refugees in the region find jobs and make the transition to the American workforce.
They met with Syrian refugees who have gone through a harrowing journey to reach the United States, which is currently hosting more than 6,500 Syrian refugees.
ESPN will spend $1 million on a program in which the network will provide a small grant for each Syrian refugee who qualifies for it.
The program, dubbed “Workplace Security and Integration,” is being launched as part of ESPN’s sponsorship of the Syrian Sports Development Initiative.
It will be administered by the U.S. Agency for International Development, which provides the cash.
ESPN president John Skipper and the network’s senior executives are scheduled to visit Turkey and Jordanian refugee camps later this week to work with Syrian refugee families who are in dire need of assistance.
The Syrian Sports Program aims to offer opportunities for Syrian refugees to find a new job, improve their economic prospects and obtain education.
It is also intended to help improve the economic outlook for Syrian refugee children who are struggling to find employment in the United Sates, Skipper said in a statement.
“This program is intended to empower refugees in Jordan and Turkey, and help them transition into the American labor market,” Skipper added.
“Our goal is to give each refugee the opportunity to build their own future, and to provide them the chance to achieve their goals in a way that enhances their self-esteem, and ultimately, their life chances.”
Skipper stressed that the money will go toward refugees who do not qualify for any other support, including food, housing and transportation.
“We are committed to supporting those who are truly at risk, and in order to do that, we need the financial support of other organizations,” Skippers said.
The announcement comes just two days after ESPN announced that it will host its annual Super Bowl 50 halftime show, which has been the most watched in U.N. history.
The game will air live on ESPN, and the halftime show will be streamed online.
ESPN, which in August released a video with its top executives, also has a sponsorship deal with the U.-Korea Sports Foundation, which will be providing $2 million in grants to help Syrian refugees in North Korea.
The organization, whose mission is to “support North Korean athletes and coaches to achieve the highest levels of success,” is also helping Syrian refugees prepare for their upcoming World Cup in September.