Stephen Curry’s Sneaker Free Agency Auction Raises $1.7 Million for Oakland’s Kids

Over 70 pairs were auctioned from Stephen Curry’s collection, with 100% of all proceeds going directly to Eat. Learn. Play.  

Our co-founder Stephen Curry embodies the spirit of using your platform for a greater purpose, both on and off the court. As part of his sneaker free agency, Stephen captured our attention by wearing a different pair of sneakers in nearly every game this season, each choice made with intentionality and a deep respect for the game of basketball and its historic icons.  

Stephen put more than 70 of those iconic pairs up for auction at Sotheby's New York as part of The Stephen Curry Collection: My Sneaker Free Agency, with the directive that every dollar raised will support Eat. Learn. Play. The auction, which ran from April 13 to 28, resulted in a total of $1.7 million going directly toward supporting Oakland’s kids.  

“That’s always been the bigger purpose for me,” shared Stephen. “There’s no better feeling than being able to celebrate the game and enjoy everything around it, while also opening doors and giving back.” 

Four hundred bidders from nearly 30 countries placed 2,350 bids – with all funds going to Eat. Learn. Play.’s work transforming the school experience for a generation of Oakland students.  

Chris Helfrich, CEO of Eat. Learn. Play., shared, “What makes this so powerful is that it connects culture to tangible impact for the kids and families we serve every day. The excitement around Stephen’s sneaker free agency brought people together in a unique way, and now that energy is being directly reinvested into programs that support access to nutritious meals, literacy, and safe places to play. Thanks to Stephen and Ayesha’s commitment to covering all our administrative and fundraising costs, every dollar raised through this auction goes straight into the work, which makes this moment even more meaningful for the communities we serve.” 

This alignment of influence, generosity, and purpose will have an incredible impact, providing access to healthy meals, books, literacy support, safe places to play, and youth sports for tens of thousands of Oakland kids.