*Stephen and Ayesha Curry’s Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation has joined forces with Martin Luther King III and Arndrea Waters King’s Realize the Dream movement, beginning their partnership with a large-scale service day at Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School in Oakland. The collaboration blends the Currys’ commitment to their hometown with Realize the Dream’s mission of honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy through service, connection, and community impact.
According to the news release, as part of the launch, Stephen and Ayesha Curry have been named Chief Dream Ambassadors of Realize the Dream. They pledged 100,000 volunteer hours in Oakland, contributing to the initiative’s national goal of 100 million hours of service by 2029, marking the centennial of Dr. King’s birth. Since its founding in 2019, Eat. Learn. Play. has engaged more than 4,000 volunteers who have collectively contributed over 30,000 service hours.
“Oakland has always held a very special place in our hearts, and we believe deeply in the power of service to create lasting change,” said Stephen & Ayesha Curry.
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“Partnering with Realize the Dream allows us to not only honor Dr. King’s legacy but also mobilize our community around a shared mission—ensuring every child has the chance to learn, play and thrive. Our pledge of 100,000 volunteer hours shows up for Oakland in the most meaningful way we know—working side by side to build a brighter future,” the couple added.
The event at Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary marked the 21st schoolyard transformation completed by Eat. Learn. Play. Volunteers installed new playgrounds, sports courts, murals, a Little Town Library stocked with culturally affirming books, and new gardens to create outdoor learning spaces. The school has historical ties to the King family, as Coretta Scott King visited the campus in 1972.
“Eat. Learn. Play. is honored to join forces with Realize the Dream and activate our village of volunteers and partners to open doors of opportunity for Oakland kids,” said Chris Helfrich, Executive Director of Eat. Learn. Play. “Together we are turning Dr. King’s dream into action that empowers the next generation,” added Craig Kielburger, Co-Founder of Legacy+, a Realize the Dream partner.
Led by Martin Luther King III, Arndrea Waters King, and Yolanda Renee King, Realize the Dream is a nationwide initiative that mobilizes people and organizations toward service. The Oakland event reflects the larger vision of uniting communities through volunteerism and building what Dr. King described as the Beloved Community.
“Martin Luther King Jr. taught us that service is not charity. It is the work of justice and the pathway to the Beloved Community,” said Martin Luther King III and Arndrea Waters King.
“What is happening here in Oakland with Stephen and Ayesha Curry shows what service can do. It brings people together. It gives children safe places to learn and play. It strengthens neighborhoods. Their pledge of 100,000 hours through Eat. Learn. Play. and their partners is a powerful step toward our goal of 100 million hours of service by 2029. That is how we honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., by rolling up our sleeves and working side by side to build the future our children deserve.”
The partnership represents a long-term investment in Oakland’s youth while connecting the city’s efforts to a broader nationwide movement of unity and service. For the Currys, the collaboration reflects a lasting dedication to uplifting children and families in Oakland and beyond.
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