In conjunction with the NBA, the Philadelphia 76ers and Sixers Youth Foundation continue to inspire the next generation of girls to play the game of basketball in a safe and positive way.
On Aug. 14, the Foundation celebrated its support of Camden Health and Athletic Association’s (CHAA) inaugural girls basketball program with a clinic and speaker series, featuring Camden County Sports Hall of Famer Valerie Still, and leaders from the Camden community, including Mayor Frank Moran, who were all on-hand to celebrate.
Inside of the Rutgers University-Camden’s gymnasium, more than 35 Camden-area girls, proudly sporting their blue and white Sixers Youth Foundation jerseys, eagerly awaited the beginning of the final installment of this pilot program.
When the time came for the program’s session to tip off, the participants packed the bleachers to hear from Camden County and University of Kentucky basketball legend Valerie Still.
“You are a star. All of you,” Still said to the attentive group of young girls. “You are not only going to light up Camden, but you are going to take your talents on the road with you as you get older.”
Following Still’s inspiring words, it was time for the girls to take to the court and continue to hone their basketball skills. Led by the program’s coaches and the Sixers Dunk Squad, each of the girls had the opportunity to participate in one final hour-long clinic.
CHAA’s summer program was implemented in partnership with Philadelphia Youth Basketball. This summer, the program consisted of eight weeks of both on-court and in-classroom programming. It was held for more than 35 Camden-area middle school aged girls, three times a week.
In 2018, the NBA and WNBA launched their Her Time To Play campaign. This national grassroots initiative aims to teach girls, ages 7-14, the game of basketball and important life skills such as teamwork, leadership and self-confidence.
To learn more about the Philadelphia 76ers and the Sixers Youth Foundation’s ongoing work in the community, click here.