The World Series of Cornhole has announced a featured partnership with former NFL star Ted Ginn Jr. and the Ginn Foundation, creating a powerful alliance focused on expanding opportunities for young people through sports, mentorship, and education. The collaboration, which will be showcased at the August 29-30, 2025 event in Columbus, Ohio, represents a strategic alignment between competitive sports and youth development initiatives.
The Ginn Foundation serves as one of WSOC's charitable beneficiaries, gaining visibility across the event's signature experiences including the Heisman Toast VIP gatherings, LEGENDS Shootout Cornhole Tournament, Miss Cornhole competition, and VIP Tailgate. These platforms provide natural moments for live fundraising, raffles, and fan-experience packages that generate financial support without interrupting the competitive atmosphere.
Ginn emphasized the foundation's core mission, stating, "All the main beneficiaries of my foundation are the kids. If you track the kids from 2015—or even earlier—to now, you'll see the progress and where they are today." The foundation operates as a community hub anchored by Ginn Academy and Ginn Elite Sports, providing structured pathways for young people to stay active, focus on academics, and avoid distractions that could derail their potential.
The partnership's significance lies in its ability to leverage sports as a vehicle for social impact. Ginn noted that "The World Series of Cornhole brings multiple races together. It brings out competitiveness—and it's different. We do 7-on-7, basketball, softball, even kickball, but cornhole doesn't usually get the spotlight." This inclusive nature of cornhole, which emphasizes accuracy and strategy over physical impact, allows broader participation across age groups and skill levels.
For the youth served by the Ginn Foundation, this partnership translates to tangible benefits. The foundation's model connects early development to high-school excellence and college readiness, with Ginn Elite Sports providing year-round training, travel competition, and big-stage opportunities. Ginn revealed, "I have three kids at The Ohio State University as we speak. Without the Ginn Elite program, these guys wouldn't have had the opportunity—or the push—to want to go."
The collaboration demonstrates how sporting events can evolve beyond entertainment to become platforms for community investment. WSOC's format naturally pairs sports legends with passionate fans while channeling energy into funding for youth foundations, veterans and military families, mental health initiatives, and disaster relief. Ginn's personal commitment to service underscores this approach, as he stated, "Giving back has opened doors for the guys coming behind me. Since my sophomore year, I've tried to help people stay who they are—on the field and off."
Fans attending WSOC can support the Ginn Foundation through live fundraising segments, bid opportunities, and raffles tied to exclusive experiences. The foundation directs supporters to its digital presence at Ginn Elite Sports where mission updates and student progress are documented. As Ginn simply stated, "I am the community," summarizing why he remains dedicated to building opportunities through sports-based initiatives.
