SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) —Purple Banana, a local Syracuse business, offers Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals that allow Syracuse University student athletes to substitute compensation for charity. People may think SU student athletes accept every NIL deal for money they receive. But people would be wrong.
Purple Banana Manager Ethan Depew said his business is still growing so there isn’t a lot of money to be offered. But, he added, NCAA-sanctioned NIL deals aren’t just about money and athletes respect that.
“Surprisingly, like a lot of the athletes, we have some big names, like Judah Mintz, who’s a basketball player at SU, who’s projected to be very good,” said Depew. “He was willing to do charity work for us where any percentage of some smoothies we sell goes to charity.”
Depew added that NIL deals with SU athletes do help businesses grow and brings with that a broader sense of community. And the athletes, he said, are always amazing to work with.
“They just help us build a presence in Syracuse and Purple Banana, as a company, does a lot of charity work. We work with the American Heart Association and a few other charities. So, it puts us on the map and we’re able to help people,” Depew said.
He added that once SU athletes hear that not every NIL deal is about money in their pockets, he believes athletes, good people, are up for charity work to help keep businesses afloat with the hope of continually raising money for different local charities in Syracuse.
