Pace Gallery and VISIBILITY launched “Pass the Baton”, a revolutionary NFT project that supports nonprofit organizations and activists for social justice, conceived by artist Glenn Kaino and his decade-long collaborator, the iconic Olympian Tommie Smith in partnership with UNOPND, powered by Hashed.
The project includes 7,872 NFTs designed as the iconic baton that Tommie Smith has used during four of his thirteen record-breaking races. The NFTs are integrated with smart contracts that set off donations to selected nonprofits for each digital baton transfer. The project will be launched on baton.art in December.
The activists taking part in the project include John Legend, Jesse Williams, Derrick Johnson, President of the NAACP, Sybrina Fulton, Trayvon Martin’s mother and founder of the Trayvon Martin Foundation, Baron Davis, who has designated the Los Angeles Urban League, and nineteen other individuals and organizations.
Influential figures who are listed on Fortune 50 NFT Celebrities list, including Gmoney, Jimmy McNelis, Jeffrey Zirlin, and PleasrDAO are also joining the cause and adding their voices.
Moreover, every NFT will evolve rarer features when one of the selected nonprofits reaches a certain amount of donations, encouraging users to “pass” the batons.
With this project, Kaino’s and Smith’s objective is to continue the intergenerational perception of social rights that has been previously expressed by the champion in 1968 with a silent protest at the Olympic Games.
Marc Glimcher, President and CEO of Pace Gallery, says: “Glenn has spent years redefining the scope and purpose of an artist’s studio practice. With Pass the Baton, he is continuing to break new ground. Glenn is helping to define the future of NFTs by placing the NFT within the giving ecosystem of the non-profit world.”
“The Pass the Baton project is a springboard” — says the American actor, director, and activist Jesse Williams —
“Celebrating the historic intertwining of social justice movements and new technologies that can propel expressions of freedom forward. When designed with intention, both can dramatically change the world for the better. I’m truly excited to play a role in bringing these forces together alongside this new legacy team of legendary change makers.” "I am pleased that Hashed is participating in this meaningful project” — declared Simon Kim, CEO & Managing Partner at Hashed —
“Especially because it demonstrates how NFTs can uniquely deliver a social message and encourage infinite donations. ‘Pass the Baton’ is sure to inspire others as a primary use case for how to harness NFTs to benefit our society for goodwill.”