Speaker Profile

Kevin Martinez, ESPN’s vice president of Corporate Citizenship, oversees all aspects of the company’s social responsibility and social impact, including corporate giving, volunteerism, cause marketing and responsible gaming. Martinez also serves as a producer of the ESPYS and executive producer of the Sports Humanitarian Awards.

As an industry veteran, Martinez is responsible for advising The Walt Disney Company’s CSR team and leading ESPN’s strategic programs that enable both greater access to sports and leadership through sports. Under his leadership, ESPN co-created Sports 4 Life with the Women’s Sports Foundation, which has created youth leadership opportunities for nearly 90,000 girls of color through sports. He also leads ESPN’s sponsorship of Special Olympics, which has helped more than 1.3 million athletes, teammates and coaches join the Unified Sports movement.

Additionally, Martinez manages ESPN’s ongoing collaboration and fundraising efforts with the V Foundation for Cancer Research, which have generated over $250 million toward cancer research programs. He also successfully launched the inaugural Sports Humanitarian Awards, now in its 11th year, which, during ESPYS Week, celebrates and honors athletes, teams and nonprofits for using the power of sports to make a positive impact on society.

ESPN named Martinez vice president of Corporate Citizenship in 2013. He joined the company in 2010 as senior director of Corporate Outreach, where he led the company’s global volunteerism efforts, V Foundation, veterans initiatives and cause marketing projects.

Prior to ESPN, Martinez served as executive director, corporate social responsibility, for KPMG. Martinez previously served as president of The Home Depot Foundation and vice president of community affairs, leading a 20-member North American community affairs team and managing global giving strategies including their nationally recognized response to disasters. Martinez also served in leadership roles for the Starbucks Coffee Co., where he helped develop and launch Ethos Water. Martinez began his career in corporate social responsibility at Eddie Bauer Co. in 1998.

Martinez and his teams have received numerous industry awards — including a special recognition from Disney CEO Bob Iger — including a Sports Emmy, Engage for Good’s highest award, “The Halo Award” three times, a Gold CLIO Award. Martinez also has received a NAMIC Luminary Award, named to Cablefax’s Diversity List 2022 Pride List and the ACCP 2020 Trailblazer Purpose Award, amongst others.

In addition to his role at ESPN, Martinez serves as a board member of the USTA Foundation, as well as the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

A native of ‘Ewa Beach, Hawaii, Martinez graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications and advertising and remains an avid Husky fan, bleeding purple and gold.

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