Living On Purpose was born from a simple but powerful truth: If you have breath, you have purpose. We help that purpose become a pathway—so individuals thrive, and communities rise with them.

Co-founded by Tiffany "Tip" Hayes, 2x WNBA All-Star and founder of SEYAH, Mariah Cooks, attorney and former NCAA athlete, and Sheri Macdonald, CEO and Founder of Sheri Mac Enterprises, Living On Purpose emerged from a shared conviction that athletes have extraordinary power to transform communities—but only when they're equipped with financial literacy, purpose-driven leadership, and systems to sustain their impact beyond their playing careers.

At the same time, we witnessed a devastating reality: thousands of young people aging out of foster care each year, facing homelessness, unemployment, and systemic barriers that seemed insurmountable. These youth needed exactly what athletes could provide—mentorship, resources, visibility, and hope.

So we built a bridge between these two communities.

A Dual Mission: Youth Empowerment Meets Athlete Leadership

Living On Purpose operates as the Bay Area Hub of Changing Faces Inc., a respected 501(c)(3) with nearly 30 years of service. Our model is unique because we serve two interconnected populations:

Youth aging out of foster care: We aim to provide transitional housing, case management, health access, financial literacy training, job training and STEM education pathways, scholarship support, and mentorship—everything they need to transition from institutional care to independent, thriving lives.
Current and former athletes: We train athletes in financial competency, purpose-driven leadership, entrepreneurship, and community investment strategies, then connect them directly with youth participants as mentors, scholarship funders, and advocates.

This creates a powerful ecosystem: youth receive the support they desperately need, and athletes discover purpose beyond the game while building sustainable wealth and community impact.

Why This Work Matters Now

The statistics are staggering:

Over 4,000 youth age out of foster care in California annually
20% experience homelessness within 12-18 months
50% are unemployed
Only 3% earn a college degree
78% of professional athletes face financial distress within 3 years of retirement.

These aren't just numbers—they're young people who have experienced homelessness and foster care, who will complete our job training and STEM education programs, and will be able to build careers in high-growth industries while gaining economic independence. They're athletes who earned millions but never learned to build wealth, and now want to invest in the next generation but don't know where to start.

Living On Purpose changes both of these stories.

The 49ers Legends Living On Purpose Benefit Gala Campaign

This inaugural gala marks a historic moment: NFL, WNBA, and NBA legends are stepping forward to lead a movement of athlete-driven community transformation.

These legends know what it means to be part of a championship team. They understand that true success isn't measured in yards, touchdowns, or trophies—it's measured in the lives you change and the legacy you leave behind.

Tonight, they're using their platforms, influence, and resources to do something extraordinary: bringing the community together to fund housing, scholarships, mentorship, and opportunity for the youth who need it.

What This Campaign Funds

Our Fund a Need campaign has a goal to raise $50,000 in one night to directly fund:

Transitional housing for youth aging out of foster care—giving them safe, stable homes while they build their futures
Scholarships for program graduates pursuing college or vocational training
Athlete Leadership Academy training professional athletes in financial literacy, purpose-driven leadership, and community investment
Mentorship matches connecting athletes with youth participants for life-changing relationships
Job training and STEM education programs creating pathways to economic independence for youth
Emergency support services providing crisis intervention when youth face unexpected challenges
Mental health and wellness programs supporting healing and transformation for both youth and athletes

Every dollar raised tonight will go directly to these programs. Every gift will change a life.

Why 49ers Legends Are Supporting Living On Purpose

Living On Purpose is leading a transformative movement, and 49ers legends are standing alongside us because they understand both the challenge and the opportunity: athletes have extraordinary earning power during their careers, but without financial literacy and purpose-driven investment strategies, that wealth disappears—and with it, the chance to close generational wealth gaps in their communities.

These legends know firsthand what it's like to come from communities where wealth-building wasn't taught, where financial advisors took advantage instead of adding value, and where sudden wealth became a burden rather than a blessing. Many faced financial distress after retirement despite earning millions during their playing years.

Now, they're joining us to break that cycle—for themselves and for the next generation.

Living On Purpose offers athletes a proven investment thesis: by building financial competency, making strategic community investments, and mentoring youth aging out of foster care, athletes can create sustainable wealth while closing the generational wealth gap for the communities that raised them.

When an athlete invests in housing for a young person aging out of foster care, they're not just providing shelter—they're preventing homelessness, enabling education, and creating a future homeowner who will build wealth for their own family. When an athlete funds scholarships, they're creating college graduates who will earn higher incomes and invest back in their communities. When athletes mentor youth and teach financial literacy, they're multiplying their impact exponentially.

This isn't charity. This is strategic wealth-building that transforms communities and creates lasting legacies.

By partnering with Living On Purpose, these legends are modeling what purpose-driven financial leadership looks like—showing other athletes that the path to generational wealth isn't just about what you earn or save, it's about what you invest in your community, and that the greatest returns come when you empower the next generation to build wealth alongside you.

The Ripple Effect of Your Gift

When you give to Living On Purpose tonight, you're not just funding one program or supporting one young person. You're creating a ripple effect that will transform communities for generations:

A youth who receives housing and mentorship becomes a college graduate, then a mentor to others
An athlete who completes financial literacy training builds sustainable wealth, then funds scholarships for dozens of students
A program graduate who avoided homelessness becomes a homeowner, then advocates for housing policy reform
A retired player who discovered purpose beyond the game inspires other athletes to invest in their communities

This is how movements are built. This is how communities are transformed. This is how we create lasting change.

Join the Movement

Whether you give $50 or $50,000, you're making a powerful statement: that every young person deserves a chance, that every athlete deserves a purpose, and that together, we can build a future where no one is left behind.

"When legends lead with purpose, communities transform forever."

Thank you for being part of this story. Thank you for believing in our youth. Thank you for investing in the next generation.

Let's make history together.

Mariah Cooks, Esq. Co-Founder & CEO, Living on Purpose

Tiffany "Tip" Hayes, Co-Founder, Living on Purpose | 2x WNBA All-Star | Founder, SEYAH 1963

Sheri Macdonald, Co-Founder, Living on Purpose | Founder & CEO Sheri Mac Enterprises

Living On Purpose is a fiscally sponsored program operating as the Bay Area Hub of Changing Faces Inc. and Hesed Christian Ministries, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

EIN: 31-1601637

All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

P.S. To deepen your involvement through mentorship, partnerships, or future events, reach out at info@living-on-purpose.org

The Northern Trust Inaugural 49ers Legends Living On Purpose Benefit Gala

Fund a Need Campaign: "When legends lead with purpose, communities transform forever."