Must Reads
Ben Cohen's StandUp Foundation today released the cover image of the rugby World Cup champion's 2015 calendar, a perennial favorite for gay sports fans worldwide. The cover was shot by Chicago celebrity photographer, Bret Grafton.
The real story though, is buried inside – a centerfold of Cohen in a locker room shower (see it in the gallery above), exclusively released to Outsports. It is the first time the calendar has offered a centerfold, and the first time Cohen has shot one. It was captured by Los Angeles photographer Edwin Santiago. What is fully revealed won't be known until the 2015 calendar ships, closer to the holidays. It is available for pre-orders through his StandUp Foundation shop at www.standupfoundation.com.
Cohen also released new additions to his sold-out underwear line: briefs and trunks in the StandUp brand's signature blue, produced by Blue Buck.
"It's all cheeky fun," said Cohen, "if you will pardon the pun. But, mostly, that fun is done for a serious cause that I feel incredibly passionate about, and I am glad the products help us do so much good."
Proceeds from Cohen's products under the StandUp mark benefit his Foundation, the world's first dedicated to anti-bullying and LGBT equality in sports.
"Thanks entirely to consumer support, we have been able to give out more than 50 grants so far, with much more to come," said Patrick T. Davis, co-founder and CEO of StandUp.
The Foundation also serves as the fiscal partner for the Nike-sponsored LGBT Sports Coalition, and manages the charitable funds coming from the sports giant's #BETRUE brand.
With both the StandUp and #BETRUE brands providing the Foundation and Coalition with funding for equality, the age of social-commercial partnerships is being driven by LGBT consumers who are creating social change with their wallets. Here's to a good holiday shopping season that will make a difference.
