Actor Michael J. Fox and Deborah W. Brooks of The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, along with musician John Mayer and NBA star Stephen Curry with his wife Ayesha Curry, will be honored on July 22 at The Hollywood Reporter and Social Impact Fund’s third annual Social Impact Summit. The event, announced on June 11, will be presented by biopharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences Inc. and aims to convene changemakers, creatives and leaders across industries with the goal of encouraging widespread and effective charitable giving by removing obstacles to creating real social change.
The Michael J. Fox Foundation will receive the Philanthropic Organization of the Year award for its groundbreaking work in Parkinson’s disease research. The foundation, co-led by actor Michael J. Fox and executive vice chair Deborah W. Brooks, has been at the forefront of funding research and accelerating treatments for the neurodegenerative disease that affects millions worldwide.
Michael J. Fox emphasized the collaborative nature of the foundation’s mission in a statement. Fox said the foundation partners closely with researchers, financial supporters, patient advocates and affected families in pursuit of ending Parkinson’s disease as swiftly as possible, noting that has always been their endgame. He further explained that while it is amazing to see the foundation’s work recognized, the honor belongs to the entire community who makes their progress possible, and together they are sprinting to deliver on their promise to end Parkinson’s for good.
Maer Roshan, editor-in-chief of The Hollywood Reporter, praised this year’s honorees for their sustained commitment to meaningful change. Roshan noted that three years in, the summit keeps raising the bar, and this year’s honorees are a big reason why, adding that what these leaders have achieved demonstrates the tremendous impact possible when celebrity status is combined with genuine commitment.
Seven-time Grammy winner John Mayer will receive the Philanthropist of the Year award in recognition of his leadership of the Heart and Armor Foundation for Veterans Health, an organization he established to fund research supporting veterans. Mayer has contributed over $5 million to advance scientific studies on veterans’ mental health and community reintegration.
His continued funding has enabled the publication of more than 40 scholarly articles and helped secure over $16 million in federal research grants. This body of work has advanced treatment approaches for PTSD, addressed the distinct challenges facing female veterans, explored insomnia and racial inequities in mental health care, examined isolation and trauma, fostered connections between civilian and military populations, and supported veteran leadership in continued service roles.
In response to the honor, the 48-year-old musician expressed gratitude to The Hollywood Reporter and the Social Impact Fund for recognizing the Heart and Armor Foundation for Veterans Health. Mayer noted that 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the United States and emphasized the nation must recognize, support and help veterans as they play an integral role, adding he is proud of the work accomplished and looks forward to reaching many goals yet to achieve.
NBA star Stephen Curry, a four-time champion and two-time MVP, along with his wife Ayesha Curry, an actress, producer and entrepreneur, will receive Philanthropists of the Year honors for their nonprofit Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation, which works to revolutionize educational experiences for Oakland’s youth. The organization directs resources toward food access, literacy, youth sports and the spaces where kids eat, learn and play each day.
The foundation’s efforts have delivered more than 25 million meals, distributed over one million new books and invested more than $20 million in Oakland schools and community spaces. The foundation focuses on ensuring children have access to the fundamental resources they need to thrive both inside and outside the classroom.
The Currys’ shared that they established Eat. Learn. Play. on the fundamental principle that all children should have the chance to flourish. They explained that through access to nutritious food, high-quality literacy resources and safe places to play and be active, they are working to help Oakland’s kids realize their full potential and experience the joy of a happy, healthy childhood. The couple added they are deeply honored by the recognition from The Hollywood Reporter and remain committed to investing in the children and families they serve, telling stories that deserve to be told and creating opportunities that can make a lasting impact for generations to come.
The Social Impact Summit brings together influential figures from entertainment, business and philanthropy to share strategies for creating meaningful social change. By highlighting the work of honorees like Fox, Brooks, Mayer and the Currys, the event seeks to demonstrate how celebrities and public figures can leverage their platforms and resources to address critical social issues ranging from medical research to veteran support to childhood development.
The third annual summit represents a growing trend of Hollywood and sports figures taking active, hands-on roles in philanthropy rather than simply lending their names to causes. Each of this year’s honorees has founded or co-leads their respective organizations, demonstrating a deep personal commitment that extends beyond financial contributions to include strategic leadership and sustained engagement with the communities they serve.