UNCF Partners with NFL, Blue Square Alliance Against Hate and Hillel International to Host Unity Week, Mobilizing Students Against Hate
Media Contact
Roy Betts UNCF Communications 240.703.3384 roy.betts@uncf.org
Black and Jewish college students unite in Pittsburgh during NFL Draft Week to build allyship, foster bridge-building and stand against division.
In a powerful demonstration of solidarity and community during NFL Draft Week, UNCF, Blue Square Alliance Against Hate, Hillel International, the National Football League and the Pittsburgh Steelers hosted Unity Week bringing together Black and Jewish college students from across the Pittsburgh region for an evening focused on allyship, bridge-building and standing up to hate.
The evening began with opening remarks from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell; Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O’Connor; Dr. Yolanda Page, president, UNCF-member institution Stillman College; Adam Lehman, president and CEO, Hillel International; and Jim Rooney, son of the late Pittsburgh Steelers chairman and president Dan Rooney; followed by an intimate fireside conversation featuring Robert Kraft, New England Patriots chairman and CEO and founder of Blue Square Alliance Against Hate; Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro; and NFL legend and two-time Super Bowl champion Charlie Batch; moderated by Missi Matthews, Pittsburgh Steelers reporter and host.
More than 90 students from local colleges and universities gathered alongside sports and civic leaders to engage in meaningful dialogue on leadership, identity and the power of sports to unite communities across differences.
Following the conversation, students took part in a , bringing together Black and Jewish student leaders for facilitated dialogue centered on shared experiences, building lasting relationships and empowering participants to actively confront hate.
As an extension of Unity Week, students also visited the Tree of Life synagogue (where a mass shooting occurred on October 27, 2018), Bethel AME Church and Freedom Corner, engaging in an immersive experience designed to deepen understanding, reflection and connection across communities.
“Nothing brings people together quite like sports. It has a unique way of uniting people from all different backgrounds, beliefs and life experiences around something bigger than themselves,” said Robert Kraft, founder of the Blue Square Alliance Against Hate. “Pittsburgh holds deep meaning as the home of the Tree of Life Synagogue, and we’re honored to partner with Hillel International, UNCF and the NFL to remember those we lost by doing the important work of fighting hate—bringing people together through dialogue, understanding and standing side by side as allies.”
“Today, the forces of division, antisemitism and anti-Black racism are still with us,” said Dr. Page. “Unity is not automatic. It is built through the simple act of sitting at a table and listening. We gathered during NFL Draft Week to remember that the best teams succeed because of their differences, not in spite of them.”
“Unity Dinners create unique opportunities for students to build relationships across differences and deepen understanding of one another’s backgrounds,” said Adam Lehman, president and CEO of Hillel International. “It was exciting to be hosting a Unity Dinner in conjunction with the NFL Draft, one of the most exciting off-field events in sports.”
Two students who participated in Unity Week in Pittsburgh during NFL Draft 2026— Yishai Selig, Penn State, and Maxwell Jones, Carnegie Mellon—announced the Seattle Seahawks’ sixth round draft pick.
Through this partnership, UNCF, Blue Square Alliance Against Hate and Hillel International host Unity Dinners across the country that bring together hundreds of HBCU and Hillel students to strengthen Black–Jewish partnerships. After reaching more than 600 students in 2025, the initiative is on track to engage more than 2,100 students in 2026.
To view the Fireside Chat, click here.
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About UNCF
UNCF is one of the nation’s largest and most effective supporters of higher education and serves as a leading advocate for college-bound students. Since its founding in 1944, UNCF has raised more than $6 billion to support students’ access to higher education, provide scholarships and strengthen historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Each year, UNCF awards more than 13,000 scholarships to more than 10,000 students totaling more than $64 million. The scholarships support students attending more than 600 US-based colleges and universities including 37 UNCF-member HBCUs. Through its efforts, UNCF has helped generations of students to get to and through college. We believe a college education plays a vital role in fortifying the pipeline of leaders and professionals who contribute to the advancement of our society. Our logo features the UNCF torch of leadership in education and our widely recognized trademark is, ‟A mind is a terrible thing to waste.”® Learn more at UNCF.org or for continuous updates and news, follow UNCF on Instagram.
About the Blue Square Alliance Against Hate
The Blue Square Alliance Against Hate, formerly known as the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism (FCAS), was founded by Robert Kraft in 2019 to stand up to Jewish hate and all hate by inspiring Americans to become active allies in the fight. The Blue Square Alliance looks to reach the nearly 50% of Americans who are unengaged in the fight against hate and inspire them to stand up to it. In 2023, the Blue Square #🟦 was established as the universal symbol of unity in combating hate, allowing all allies to wear and share their support.
About Hillel International
Founded in 1923, Hillel has been impacting the lives of Jewish college students and countering antisemitism on campus for more than 100 years. Hillel International is a global organization that welcomes students of all backgrounds and fosters an enduring commitment to Jewish life, learning, and Israel. As the largest Jewish student organization in the world, Hillel builds connections with emerging adults at more than 850 colleges and universities. During their formative college years, students are inspired to explore, experience, and create vibrant Jewish lives.