Founder Feature: Jaci McCormack of Rise Above
We first met Jaci McCormack when she paneled and pitched her organization, Rise Above, at our Founders Live Athletes All-Star Game edition in 2023. She didn’t win, but she made a tremendous impression with her commitment to her mission of employing health and wellness strategies using sports, culture, and music to educate, empower, and mentor Native American youth.
Jaci excels at bringing together an entire community of businesses, civic leaders, athletes, celebrities, and supporters to elevate what’s possible and actually change lives.
Rise Above’s tagline - “Be a pro at being you” - shows how Jaci translated her experience as an NCAA collegiate playoff star into her life’s pursuit, and the kind of ethic she brings every day.
“Stories have tremendous value in defining who we are, and this is why Jaci’s story is so essential, not only to the American Indian and First Nations community, but to all of us.”
Jaci McCormack, Erica Tremblay
Credit: Erica Tremblay/ Credit: Colin Mulvany / The Spokesman-Review
She’s now the subject of a feature film about her challenges and triumph and how her love of basketball protected and elevated her through it all. The film will be written by award-winner, Erica Tremblay (Little Chief, Yellow Bird) of the Seneca-Cayuga Nation, directed by Dennis Lee (Fireflies in the Garden) and produced by his Atomic Features partner Daniel Ragussis (Imperium), and Tremblay. Basketball Hall of Fame players Lenny Wilkens and Gary Payton, Hollywood icon Danny Glover, and longtime civil rights activist Gus Newport will executive produce.
Read more about the film and Jaci’s inspiring story in Deadline
Rise Above just celebrated their 10th year with a benefit dinner where she was honored with a SuperSonics medallion made by master beader Roxanne Hines of the Northern Arapahoe Tribe for Willie Frank of the Nisqually Tribe. The skyline is based on the Sonics logo, but altered slightly to include Mount Rainier as a nod to Tequma (Don’t Forget the Water), which is part of the Nisqually creation story. Auction items included a set of Les Paul guitars featuring custom Sonics art by local artist Damon Brown, signed by Duff McKagen of Guns N’ Roses, Shawn Kemp, Gary Payton, and Spencer Haywood.
For-profit or non-profit, as a founder, we hope you’re inspired to pursue your dreams, seek allies, and make a true impact on the world in the best way you can.
