DIAMONDS: FRED VANVLEET | 06.12.25 | ROCKFORD, IL
DIAMONDS: Fred VanVleet marked the third annual DIAMONDS storytelling gala, celebrating the iconic story of Fred VanVleet – NBA all-star and champion, entrepreneur, philanthropist and Rockford, Illinois, native. Emceed by Nicole Briscoe, a Roscoe native and ESPN SportsCenter anchor, DIAMONDS: Fred VanVleet was held Thursday, June 12, at Hard Rock Casino in Rockford.
The evening program included a VIP reception, dinner, live auction and paddle raise, a live interview between VanVleet and Briscoe with an audience Q&A, and live entertainment. Founders Commission also unveiled its 2025 DIAMONDS Scholar post-secondary scholarship recipients, Riley Jamieson and Cora Miatke. Moreover, the Founders Commission Hall of Fame officially launched during the program, highlighted by its first ever Hall of Fame nomination -- Fred VanVleet. Event proceeds benefitted the Founders Commission and VanVleet Family Foundation, two certified 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to uplifting Rockford through community and youth engagement, education, and more.
DIAMONDS: FRED VANVLEET PHOTO GALLERY
ABOUT FRED VANVLEET
A proud Rockford native, Fred VanVleet has achieved extraordinary success on one of the world’s biggest sports stages, betting on himself to grow a global brand and platform he continues to leverage for good in his hometown. In his eighth overall NBA season, VanVleet’s many career accolades include 2019 NBA champion, 2022 NBA All-Star, and the single-game scoring record (54 points) for the Toronto Raptors. Off the court, VanVleet has a variety of business and nonprofit ventures, including the VanVleet Family Foundation (VFF) that he founded in 2016 to lend a hand to those who need it most.
ABOUT THE VANVLEET FAMILY FOUNDATION
The VanVleet Family Foundation (VFF) was established to increase access and exposure for youth through educational opportunities, athletics and career development. The VFF serves many needs by providing basic resources of food, clothing, shoes and coats; financial literacy classes; HBCU college tours; college scholarships; youth club sports participation; holiday shopping sprees; and NBA gameday experiences.
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THE IMPACT OF DIAMONDS
Founders Commission debuted the DIAMONDS series June 15, 2023, in honor of the region's U.S. Navy TOPGUN lineage. As a platform for the community’s most successful native brands and people to tell their stories and give back to their hometown, DIAMONDS yielded net proceeds in year one that served two terrific causes: a donation to the local Disabled American Veterans chapter and dedicated seed funding for Founders Commission's DIAMONDS Scholar post-secondary scholarship program.
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In 2024, the DIAMONDS Scholar youth scholarship program debuted, receiving 24 scholarship applications leading to the inaugural DIAMONDS Scholar honoree, Faith Offermann, who was recognized during DIAMONDS: Michelle Williams. In addition, Founders Commission partnered with the Rockford Park District to expand DIAMONDS to serve area youth through the Next Gems Youth Summit. Founders Commission capped off the second annual DIAMONDS by making a donation to St. Paul Church of God in Christ Rockford in Williams' honor.
In 2025, Founders Commission received 30 DIAMONDS Scholar applications, two of which resulted in post-secondary scholarships for Riley Jamieson and Cora Miatke. In addition, the Founders Commission Hall of Fame was officially launched at DIAMONDS: Fred VanVleet to honor the exemplary achievements of people who are native or have longstanding ties to the Rockford region. As part of the Hall of Fame rollout, Founders Commission unveiled its first official Hall of Fame nominee -- NBA champion Fred VanVleet. Moreover, Founders Commission teamed up with the Rockford Park District and Victory Pickleball to provide 21 area kids free access to the DIAMONDS gala. And at the end of DIAMONDS, Founders Commission made a generous donation to the VanVleet Family Foundation. To learn more, EMAIL US!
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DIAMONDS HISTORY
DIAMONDS: TOPGUN (2023) | DIAMONDS: Michelle Williams (2024)
For inquiries, email Info@FoundersCommission.org.