PHILADELPHIA, PA – JULY 23, 2021 – Just weeks after The Aspen Institute released “State of Play Camden,” a comprehensive report assessing the landscape of sport activities for youth, the Sixers Youth Foundation has announced a $50,000 grant to the Greater Philadelphia YMCA. The grant will support the YMCA’s “Soccer for Success,” a free after-school program that helps kids establish healthy habits and develop critical life skills through caring coach-mentors and family engagement.
“We are excited to partner with the YMCA, an organization that has been a local leader in creating opportunities for youth to experience sports,” said Marjorie Harris, Chair of the Sixers Youth Foundation. “Using the data and recommendations found in “State of Play Camden,” it’s our hope that by building on the momentum of the Y’s Soccer for Success program, we can make soccer – one of the city’s most popular youth sports – more accessible to a broader group of children. We are excited to bring a passion for sports to our community and continue creating lasting opportunities for all in Camden.”
“Our SOCCER FOR SUCCESS program pulls together strategic partnerships between schools, policy makers, community stakeholders and now the Sixers Youth Foundation for which we could not be more grateful,” said Shaun Elliott, CEO of the Greater Philadelphia YMCA. “The program takes strengths and principles of the YMCA beyond our walls and goes directly into the communities we serve, and we’ve had great success in Camden.”
The $50,000 grant from the Sixers Youth Foundation will support the YMCA’s operational gap and provide necessary equipment, coach stipends, program management and more. The funds will help bring a quality level of sports to more than 900 Camden youth.
ABOUT THE SIXERS YOUTH FOUNDATION:
Established in 2015, the Sixers Youth Foundation is the nonprofit extension of the Philadelphia 76ers and a regional philanthropy focused on youth development across the Delaware Valley. The Foundation believes in utilizing the power of sport and the influence of the 76ers brand to inspire future generations in the communities where our fans live, work and play. For more information, visit sixersyouthfoundation.org.
ABOUT SOCCER FOR SUCCESS:
Soccer for Success® is a free after-school program that is proven to help kids establish healthy habits and develop critical life skills through caring coach-mentors and family engagement. The YMCA in partnership with the U.S. Soccer Foundation, Campbell’s Soup Company, and United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey has provided Soccer for Success® in Camden City for almost a decade with over 2,000 kids participating in the after-school based program. Currently facilitating soccer in over 28 sites in the New Jersey and Philadelphia area, Soccer for Success looks to be a staple program that illustrates how the YMCA provides charter development to students while incorporating Y core values facilitated through sport. Through this program, we work with school officials, parents, and our communities to create a safe environment where kids can be active, engage with coach mentors, learn about nutrition, and more.