A young man overcoming a disability he doesn’t seem to notice. A young woman outshining racial animosity in a white man’s profession. A teacher who stopped a school shooting in his science class. A forgotten survivor of gun violence, facing a confrontation with his mental health.

Welcome to a franchise for our time, a celebration where famous athletes and almost-famous sports fans connect to inspire each other. It’s aspirational. It’s authentic: moving sports culture forward.

B/R knew that using decidedly American portraits of everyday heroism—and it was through the connective power of sports - was a perfect way to reach a multitude of fans. B/REAL is a groundbreaking digital documentary franchise, that would build an even more powerful kind of storytelling we can all agree upon: B/REAL connects real-life heroes—and their unforgettable narratives—with all-star athletes to create life-changing moments and go viral for good.

B/R, supported by Cricket Wireless, saw an opportunity to become agents of change for society and for inspiring human stories in throughout society. The campaign brought on star professional athletes as partners in order to give back to each of these communities in a meaningful and life-changing way.

Whether it’s donating the bleachers and lights that Alexandria’s high school in Hawaii could not afford, starting a scholarship in Brehanna’s name within the Drive for Diversity program, or a donation to the Zaevion Dobson Memorial Foundation, these programs accomplished serious change in some of these heroes’ lives. These charitable donations were not possible without partner Cricket Wireless.

Executive producer and NBA legend Carmelo Anthony selected five heroes who represented 2018’s best feel-good moments in sports...then ID’d five top athletes who could connect with them.

B/REAL was created to amplify inspirational stories of everyday sports heroes by sharing B/R’s platform with a committee of influential athletes - to help mobilize the social consciousness of a generation.

If there was ever a way to bring together divided audiences in 2018, it was around decidedly American portraits of everyday heroism—and it was through the connective power of sports.

Bleacher Report created a groundbreaking digital documentary franchise produced by a nimble crew of young multi-platform journalists. B/REAL connects local heroes—and their unforgettable narratives—with all-star athletes to create life-changing moments and go viral for good.

This is a limited series of short films at the intersection of sports and society—but also at the intersection of print, broadcast and online-style storytelling...

Carmelo Anthony and his celebrity friends—Chris Paul and more—show up in backyards and schools across America going viral all over again, in powerful moments that make the almost-famous...as famous as them.

With distribution that challenged sports fans to think differently about the world around them, the series has become a national phenomenon—a kind of journalistic harmony at a period of otherwise utter discord.

B/REAL’s five stories have been viewed more than 12 million times. They have been accepted to multiple film festivals. And they have made a difference: Bleacher Report sent the one-armed phenom to college; provided meals to support survivors of that school shooting; rebuilt the bleachers for America's only female starting varsity QB; supported the refurbishment of a rec center for the late brother of yet another gun violence survivor. B/REAL’s innovative documentary storytelling didn’t just create viral moments and memorable films…it created a movement.