A’s Establish Legacy Program in Honor of Kyle Ellington, Late Director of Diversity, Inclusion, & Belonging
OAKLAND, Calif. — The Oakland A’s have established a three-part legacy program in honor of Kyle Ellington, the organization’s late Director of Diversity, Inclusion, & Belonging. The A’s will honor Ellington with a three-year scholarship at his alma mater, the University of Georgia; an Impact Award given annually to a member of the A’s front office; and renaming the Oakland A’s Community Fund’s social justice grant in his memory. Ellington, who joined the A’s in February 2021, passed away on Jan. 21, 2023.
The Kyle Ellington Legacy Scholarship is intended for an undergraduate student with financial need at the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia. The $10,000 scholarship will be awarded to a student who embodies the spirit of Ellington’s life mission to empower our communities to be more economically, socially, and environmentally just by facilitating progressive social change through volunteerism, activism, and inclusivity. The Dean of the College will appoint a committee to determine the scholarship recipient each year for three years.
The Kyle Ellington Impact Award will recognize employees who share Ellington’s values and mission, including promoting diversity, inclusion, belonging, and equity in their work and community. The award will serve as a tribute to Ellington’s legacy, celebrating the impact he had on the organization and inspiring others to follow in his footsteps. At the end of each year, A’s employees will have the opportunity to nominate a colleague to receive the award. The recipient will be selected by a committee of A’s senior leaders and will receive recognition throughout the organization. The A’s will also make a financial donation to a nonprofit organization of the recipient’s choosing in Ellington’s honor.
The Oakland A’s Community Fund Social Justice Grant program will be renamed the Kyle Ellington Social Justice Grant. The grant disseminates funds once a year to organizations that are committed to uplifting the Bay Area through systemic change, advocacy, policy reform, and innovative direct service programs for underserved communities.
Ellington had 10 years of experience working in the sports and entertainment industry. He started with the A’s in February 2021 and was the team’s first Director of Diversity, Inclusion, & Belonging. Among his many accomplishments, he spearheaded the development of the Diversity Taskforce, Diversity Council, and a number of the A’s employee resource groups. He led the A’s speaker series, which hosted speakers from the Black American, Native American, Asian American, Latin American, disability rights, and LGBTQIA+ communities. He provided training on topics ranging from male allyship in the workplace to creating an equitable organizational culture. Ellington also organized the A’s mentorship program with Laney College.
Before joining the A’s, he served as the Director, Human Resources and Diversity & Inclusion for the Sacramento Kings. At the Kings, he held the first D&I title and implemented D&I initiatives throughout the organization. He had additional sports human resources experience working with the Atlanta Hawks, Atlanta Falcons, and Levy Restaurants at the Georgia Dome. A Georgia native, Ellington held a bachelor’s degree in management and a master’s degree in human resources and organizational development from the University of Georgia. In his time off, Ellington was an enthusiastic sneakerhead who enjoyed playing golf and basketball, watching live sports – especially his Georgia Bulldogs, hiking, and traveling to experience new cultures and traditions.