For the second season in a row, Penn Medicine and the Philadelphia 76ers will turn smooth passes into donations for grassroots organizations seeking to improve the lives of people in Philadelphia and beyond. The Assists for Safe Communities program today announced the second cohort of organizations that will receive a share of donations tied to the total number of assists 76ers players record in the 2025/26 season. For every pass that leads to a basket, Penn Medicine and the 76ers will join to donate $76.
The six organizations selected as beneficiaries this year are:
- Ordinarie Heroes: An education-focused program aimed at uplifting historically marginalized communities, built around programs like tutoring for adolescents, a film/photography training program, and community farming efforts
- Free All Minds Academy: A program for young men aimed at developing skills for academic, professional, and athletic success, which includes programs focused on self-care and health
- The Apologues: A fashion, art, and music exhibit designed to help individuals heal from gun violence and trauma affecting them, their loved ones, and their communities
- Open Door Abuse Awareness Prevention: Through sports training, this program intervenes at key moments in children and teenagers' lives with trauma-informed programs to break cycles of violence
- Design FC: A youth organization that uses jersey design to help young people tell their stories and provide access to organizations and resources that are often unreachable to many communities
- Level Up Philly: A STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) lab focused on providing skills and training for youth from marginalized communities
While each organization has a unique mission and serves different people, they all have the same goal: Reducing violence and improving prospects for people throughout the Philadelphia region.
"Any time you have a successful program where you can see the direct benefit to people, you want to build on that momentum," said Ajeenah Amir, MS, director of Civic Engagement & Community Partnerships at Penn Medicine. "It's so important to have a partner that has that same level of commitment, and this new cohort of youth-serving organizations is exciting and inspiring."
"In partnership with Penn Medicine, we are proud to build upon the success of this program and raise awareness on violence prevention," said Mike Goings, the 76ers' vice president of Social Responsibility/Fans. "As the program grows, we're excited to welcome a new group of recipients this season and continue the momentum, creating meaningful change and a broader impact across our community."
Last year, the 76ers collected 1,901 assists and raised $144,476, which was evenly split among last year's cohort of six organizations.
One organization, Shoot Basketballs NOT People, used some of their share of the donations to take the youth they serve out of their neighborhoods on two educational field trips that may not have otherwise been possible. The partnership also yielded a transformative day for their kids.
"The highlight of our partnership was the 'Sixer for a Day' event, where our youth experienced life as professional athletes—from behind-the-scenes facility tours to mentorship interactions," said Garry Mills, the founder of Shoot Basketball NOT People. "This unforgettable experience showed them that with dedication and focus, their dreams are within reach."
The donations also led to dramatically increased reach for some programs. That included New Leash on Life, an organization that pairs rescue dogs with incarcerated indivudals, formerly incarcerated individuals, or others who have had contact with the justice system.
"New Leash on Life USA has more than doubled its impact in the past year, serving twice as many justice-impacted people and at-risk dogs in the Philadelphia region," said Jane Bridwell, founder of New Leash on Life USA. "We currently have programs operating in three local prisons, and doubled the size of our young adult diversion program. The New Leash Foster & Reentry Programs at SCI Chester are now serving even more incarcerated people."
Many players from the 76ers will again go into the community and participate in various events with the six new organizations, spending time with youth and community members, and spotlighting the work of each beneficiary.
Since becoming partners in 2022, the 76ers and Penn Medicine have collaborated on efforts to promote physical activity, support neighborhood safety and contribute to revitalization efforts throughout the Greater Philadelphia region.
