Billie Jean King named to inaugural TIME100 Philanthropy list

Billie Jean King has been recognized for her grassroots charity and activism by American magazine TIME.

In King's selection spotlight for the inaugural TIME100 Philanthropy list, writer Harry Booth recalled that King provided $5,000 worth of seed funding to the organization that is now known as the Women's Sports Foundation back in 1973, and how that "initial gift reflected [the] trademark fusion of activism and savvy institution-building" that has continued throughout her life.

"In the ensuing five decades, she’s remained dedicated to advocacy for equality in sports and to philanthropy that supports the power of sports to transform lives and foster social change," Booth said.

King wrote on social media that she was "so proud to be included" on the inaugural list, which also included famous faces like David Beckham, former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, Steph Curry and his wife Ayesha, Law & Order actress Mariska Hargitay, and singer Dolly Parton.

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King's selection is the second honor for tennis by TIME this year. In April, Serena Williams was named to the magazine's annual list of the world's most 100 influential people, which has existed for 21 years. The philanthropy list follows subsequent expansions on that signature franchise by TIME including AI, climate and health—topics that the magazine says are "areas poised to significantly shape our future."

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For the philanthropic edition, TIME's senior editor Ayesha Javed cultivated selections from the magazine's storied reporters, editors, and contributors globally, and landed on a collection of individuals from 28 countries in the categories of titans, leaders, trailblazers and innovators.

“At this pivotal moment, this list tells the stories of how generous donors and leaders of foundations and non-profits are directing funding into the communities that need it most,” Javed said.