Our Vision

The Skyhook Foundation was founded in 2009 by NBA legend, Hall of Famer and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and his long-time business partner of 30+ years, Deborah Morales.

Inspired by a lifelong commitment to education, equity and social justice, Kareem established the Skyhook Foundation to expand educational opportunities for underserved youth. The Foundation's mission is to "Give Kids a Shot That Can't Be Blocked" by providing transformative outdoor STEAM education that sparks curiosity, builds confidence and prepares students for future academic and career success.

Since 2012, the Foundation has partnered with the Los Angeles Unified School District's Office of Outdoor and Environmental Education to operate Camp Skyhook—a free, five-day residential STEAM camp at Clear Creek Outdoor Education Center. The program gives fourth- and fifth-grade students from underserved communities immersive, hands-on learning experiences that foster critical thinking, environmental stewardship, teamwork, and a lifelong love of learning.

In 2025, the Skyhook Foundation expanded its impact through a partnership with the Orange County Department of Education's Inside the Outdoors program. This collaboration brings the Foundation's mission to Orange County by providing immersive, single-day outdoor STEAM experiences that connect students with nature through hands-on environmental science. Serving more than 110,000 students annually, Inside the Outdoors is a nationally recognized leader in experiential environmental education, making it an ideal partner to extend Skyhook's reach and inspire even more young learners.

By using the power of sport to open doors to educational opportunity, the Skyhook Foundation exemplifies how athletes can create lasting impact far beyond the game—preparing the next generation of innovators, leaders, and changemakers.