2003-04 Drive For Kids

In November, the 76ers and Food Banks of the Delaware Valley asked fans throughout the tri-state area to bring a non-perishable or canned food item to the Wachovia Center for all home games, or to a specified Chevrolet dealership. Enough food and cash donations were collected to feed 3,500 people. 76ers guard Aaron McKie and Comcast SportsNet anchor Neil Hartman served as spokespeople for the drive, which targeted low-income families. At the conclusion of “Aaron’s Food Drive”, McKie, a Philadelphia native and graduate of Temple University, hosted families at the Liacouras Center on Thanksgiving Day for a holiday meal with all the trimmings, feeding 200 people from Philadelphia Salvation Army shelters and the Northern Home for Children.

From December through February, the 76ers and Comcast SportsNet turned their attention to keeping kids warm during the winter months with a coat drive spearheaded by forward/center Derrick Coleman. “D.C.’s Coat’s for Kids” was the longest of the four drives, starting in late November and ending in late February. The drive collected nearly 400 coats. The Salvation Army provided donation bins for new coats at all home games at the Wachovia Center and local participating Chevrolet dealerships. Comcast SportsNet’s Dei Lynam, who also serves as the 76ers sideline reporter for game broadcasts, assisted Coleman in getting the word out on this important initiative. All coats were donated to the Salvation Army for distribution to children in Philadelphia and Detroit, Coleman’s hometown.

Donations to “D.C.’s Coats for Kids” are also be accepted. All checks should be made out to the Derrick Coleman Foundation and can be sent to:
Derrick Coleman Foundation
c/o Sixers Charities
3601 S. Broad St.
Philadelphia, PA 19148

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“Thomas’ Toy Drive”, presented by Mobil, benefited Toys for Tots and took place in December. 76ers forward Kenny Thomas and Michael Barkann, who hosts the popular Daily News Live and Sixers Postgame Live programs, teamed up with the Marines to request donations of new and unwrapped toys for children in the Delaware Valley. Over 400 toys and an additional $2,224 were collected. Fans had an opportunity during the entire month of December to drop off the donations at the Wachovia Center and selected Mobil locations to assist a child in need.
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The “Drive for Kids” culminated in March with a book drive that went hand-in-hand with the 76ers Read to Achieve initiative and reading month. Rookie Willie Green and Ron Burke, host of Comcast SportsNet’s morning program SportsRise, helped promote literacy by encouraging everyone to bring a new or gently used children’s book to the Wachovia Center or a selected Chevrolet Dealership. All books were donated to Philadelphia Reads.
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