Sophie Cunningham Launches $1M “Academy of Hope” – First-Ever Boarding School for Orphans and Homeless Kids in Missouri..
In an emotional announcement that stunned the sports world, Phoenix Mercury guard and Missouri native Sophie Cunningham revealed plans for The Cunningham Academy of Hope, the nation’s first boarding school dedicated exclusively to orphaned and homeless children.
The $1 million initiative, fully funded by Cunningham and private donors, will break ground next spring outside Columbia, Missouri. The campus will offer tuition-free education, on-site housing, counseling, and lifelong mentorship for up to 200 students ages 6–18.
“This isn’t about basketball,” Cunningham said, fighting back tears at Tuesday’s press conference. “It’s about giving kids the love, safety, and second chance they deserve – the same second chance Mizzou and the game gave me.”
Construction begins in 2026, with the first students expected to move in by fall 2027. Cunningham has already pledged a portion of every future contract to sustain the academy for life.
