Ali Center Honors Colin Kaepernick as Humanitarian
The Muhammad Ali Center will present Colin Kaepernick its Humanitarian of the Year award at its 13th annual awards ceremony in Louisville.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Philanthropy
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The Muhammad Ali Center will present Colin Kaepernick with its Humanitarian of the Year award during its 13th annual awards ceremony Saturday evening. The center also honors Louisville philanthropists Steve and Amy Trager with the Kentucky Humanitarian Award.
Why it matters
The center cited Kaepernick's work addressing racial injustice and underserved communities, a cause tied to his 2016 national anthem kneeling protests that drew wide national attention. The ceremony also recognizes six changemakers age 30 or younger, extending the honors to emerging leaders.
Kaepernick played six NFL seasons, primarily with the San Francisco 49ers, and has not played in the league since the 2016 season. The 13th annual ceremony recognizes six changemakers age 30 or younger.
The players
Colin Kaepernick
Former NFL quarterback who played six seasons, primarily with the San Francisco 49ers, and became a prominent advocate against racial injustice after his 2016 anthem protests.
Muhammad Ali Center
Louisville-based cultural and educational institution founded to honor the legacy of boxing champion Muhammad Ali and his commitment to humanitarian causes.
Steve and Amy Trager
Louisville philanthropists being honored with the Kentucky Humanitarian Award at the same ceremony.
The details
Kaepernick began kneeling during the national anthem before NFL games in 2016 to protest racial injustice and police brutality. The Muhammad Ali Center will confer the award during its ceremony at the center in Louisville.
Timeline
2016: Kaepernick begins kneeling protests during the national anthem.
2016 season: Kaepernick's last NFL season.
Saturday, November 7, 2026: Muhammad Ali Center awards ceremony in Louisville.
Legal Context
The Muhammad Ali Center was founded to carry forward Ali's activism, including his 1967 refusal to be inducted into the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. This award continues that tradition by recognizing modern figures whose advocacy addresses racial injustice.
The award recognizes individuals and organizations doing humanitarian work, which may draw attention to local causes and donation opportunities in Louisville. Readers interested in supporting these efforts can look to the center's ceremony and honorees for ways to get involved.
The takeaway
Recognizing young changemakers and long-running humanitarian work together signals that civic impact can come from many generations and backgrounds. Readers can look to local honorees as models for supporting causes in their own communities.
Further reading
For related coverage, explore more Philanthropy stories on the site.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WLKY.
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