-- Rams’ signing preceded Jackie Robinson’s debut --

The Anti-Defamation League’s World of Difference Institute honored the St. Louis Rams on March 6, 2006 for their leadership in diversity at all levels and their philanthropic accomplishments across the St. Louis community.  Bob Wallace, Rams’ executive vice president and general counsel and one of the highest ranking minorities in professional sports, was on hand to accept the Workplace Diversity Award.  The award was presented at a gala reception and dinner at the Starlight Roof at the Chase Park Plaza.  The selection committee, comprised of community influencers and peers from across the St. Louis area, unanimously agreed that the Rams have excelled in every area of diversity and inclusion and are an excellent example of how corporations should perform. 

The award fell on the eve of the 60th anniversary of the Rams becoming the first professional sports team in the modern era to sign an African-American player - even before Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball.  Kenny Washington’s signing on March 9, 1946, started the Rams down an important path to recognizing the importance of diversity.  Today, the diversity extends throughout the organization in a variety of capacities and differences. 

The team has also leveraged their unique assets to bring positive awareness and innovative programming in the area of tolerance and diversity training to the St. Louis area.  In 2000, the team established the Diversity Awareness Partnership.  Today, the DAP is a multi-faceted collaboration of more than 100 organizations working together to promote the value of difference in our community through community and school-based education and awareness efforts.  Themed “Make a Difference By Accepting Everyone Else’s”, the DAP has tackled issues such as race, religion and disability and will bring more issues to the public forefront in the near future.  

About the St. Louis Rams
Since moving to St. Louis in 1995, the Rams have become one of the most successful and popular teams in professional sports continually placing St. Louis on the national stage - with one World Championship, two Super Bowl appearances, and five playoff appearances during the last seven seasons.  Off-the-field, the organization has contributed more than $6 million in cash, grants, merchandise and tickets to area charities.