In August, Givsly tipped off the inaugural Great Donation Dunk, welcoming the industry to a more inclusive, high-energy sporting event where every shot, pass, and cheer helped drive meaningful impact.

Hosted at the National Basketball Players Association, the night brought together more than 250 industry professionals ready to compete, connect, and give back.

From agencies to media partners, teams across Annalect, Carat, Publicis Groupe, dentsu, EssenceMediacom, Havas, Hearts & Science, IPG Mediabrands, KINESSO, Mediahub Worldwide, UM Worldwide, Orion Worldwide, Wavemaker, WPP Media, and Zenith participated in four basketball challenges designed to be accessible, fun, and community-driven.

A Night Built for Everyone

The Great Donation Dunk was created to remove barriers and reimagine what a sports-focused industry event can look like. Whether participants were seasoned players or picking up a basketball for the first time, the emphasis was on participation, teamwork, and shared purpose.

The energy carried throughout the night with challenges powered by DailyMail.com, InMobi, Yieldmo, Dailymotion, Integral Ad Science, Index Exchange, OpenX, Sightly, and Zeta Global.

Off the court, the experience continued with stadium-style concessions from Perion, a photo booth powered by Wunderkind, custom jerseys from Teads, and an electric halftime performance by Big Happy that kept the crowd energized.

Surprise Guests and Slam Dunk Moments

Adding to the excitement, basketball legend Walt Frazier joined the event, bringing his signature style, posing for photos, and helping close out the night with trophies and celebration.

As a final surprise, NBA player Mo Bamba dropped in to challenge our Three-Point winner to a face-off that sent the crowd into a frenzy and perfectly capped an unforgettable evening.

Turning Competition Into Impact

Thanks to the collective effort of attendees, partners, and sponsors, the inaugural Great Donation Dunk raised $25,000 for nonprofit organizations — proving once again that when this industry comes together, the impact goes far beyond the court.

Official Winners and Donations

Knockout Challenge

• 🏆 Winner: Luke Allen, Orion Worldwide — $1,000 donation to NY Edge
• Runner-Up: Clement Gibson, KINESSO — $500 donation to Food Bank For New York City

3-Point Challenge

• 🏆 Winner: Jordan Goris, WPP — $1,000 donation to UnidosUS
• Runner-Up: Sean Challenger, Apex — $500 donation to Full Court Peace

Team Relay Race

• 🏆 Team Mediahub — Captain: Daniel Fradella — $2,500 donation to Food Bank For New York City
• 🏆 Team Havas — Captain: Stephen Disko — $1,000 donation to American Thyroid Association
• 🏆 Team dentsu — Captain: Jessie Schwartz — $500 donation to Project Backpack

Executive Around the World Challenge

• 🏆 Josh Mallalieu, UM — $2,250 donation to Lasagna Love
• 🏆 Mike Hill, Mediahub — $3,250 donation to Best Buddies
• 🏆 Brad Backenstose, Wavemaker — $2,250 donation to Habitat for Humanity
• 🏆 Cara Lewis, dentsu — $2,000 donation to ALS Association
• 🏆 Sebastien Hernoux, Annalect — $2,000 donation to Puppy Kitty NYCity
• 🏆 Ziggy Prieto, Mediahub — $2,750 donation to Food Bank For New York City

A Slam Dunk Start

The Great Donation Dunk was more than a game. It was a reminder of what’s possible when competition is paired with purpose and community leads the way.

To everyone who participated, partnered, sponsored, and cheered from the sidelines — thank you for helping make the first Great Donation Dunk such a slam dunk. We look forward to building on this momentum.