UCLA Athletics’ NIL Collective Announces Restructuring
UCLA has revealed a restructuring of its NIL Collective, known as Champion of Westwood. This collective will now officially support all UCLA student-athletes through three specific NIL funds:
The existing Men of Westwood fund, dedicated to men’s basketball.
The current Champion of Westwood fund (also known as the Champions Fund), which will support women’s basketball and Olympic sports.
Bruins for Life, a new initiative focused exclusively on football.
This streamlined approach aims to enhance NIL opportunities for UCLA student-athletes and will be recognized by the Wooden Athletic Fund and the University.
“As the NIL landscape evolves, we must adapt and strengthen our partnership with the collective. This restructure will provide better alignment and clarity, ultimately benefiting our student-athletes at an elite level,” stated Martin Jarmond, UCLA’s Director of Athletics. “We are focused on attracting, developing, and retaining the best talent in Westwood.”
Ken Graiwer, CEO of Champion of Westwood, will oversee both the Champion and Men of Westwood funds. James Washington, a former UCLA Football safety and two-time Super Bowl champion, along with philanthropist John Manuck, will lead Bruins for Life. Teri Hanneke, previously a compliance assistant in UCLA Athletics, will serve as Business Operations Assistant for Bruins for Life.
“As we evolve, our goal remains the same: to keep UCLA Athletics competitive in the NIL era,” Graiwer remarked. Washington added, “For UCLA Football to succeed, the Bruin football family must rally around NIL, and Bruins for Life provides that platform.”
Champion of Westwood’s mission is to empower student-athletes by securing and facilitating NIL opportunities to monetize their personal brands. UCLA Athletics will still offer access to an exclusive brand marketplace, the Westwood Exchange, for businesses and individuals to connect with student-athletes.
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