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Harris Family Charitable Foundation Ushers in Holiday Spirit, Hosts Students at Game

How many of you remember the first sporting event you attended?

We’re willing to wager a pretty good amount.

With the holiday spirit reaching full swing, 76ers Managing Partners Josh and Marjorie Harris hosted 40 students from the Camden chapter of the After-School All-Stars program at Monday’s game against the Phoenix Suns.

For many of the After-School All-Stars in attendance, their only prior exposure to the 76ers had been limited to watching games on TV, or consuming content online.

Monday, however, gave these kids the chance to live and breathe the real thing.

Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment operates sports properties in all three cities. The Harrises consider it their responsibility to target those areas and use the power of sports to elevate and empower underserved youth.

“Sports is amazing in the sense that it grabs kids and draws them in,” said Josh Harris, a former student-athlete at the University of Pennsylvania, where he wrestled. “You can use sports to give kids a path to lead better lives, whether that means eating better, or keeping them safe, or studying in school. To take people less fortunate than you, and possibly make a difference in their lives is something I feel almost is an obligation that I have, especially in places and areas that the team touches.”

During Monday’s game itself, the Harris Family Charitable Foundation and 76ers recognized the achievements of several After-School All-Stars students on the center court scoreboard, and presentations on the floor.

Between the game, and their interactions with the children on-hand, the Harrises are hoping Monday’s outing will have a lasting impact.

“I think that’s how it works for us. We’re part of a big community, and it’s our job to help each other. For me, the best part of it is to see them smile, happy, and go home having a great memory of the Philadelphia 76ers.”