It’s been a really good year to be a sports fan in Philadelphia. The Phillies saw the playoffs (again), the Union had the best record in soccer, the Sixers drafted a superstar, the Flyers are finally playing well, and the Birds won the big one (again).
Loyal sports fans know the truth. Philadelphia is the best sports city in the world. Full stop. Less known: Part of what makes Philadelphia’s sports scene so spectacular is our teams’ commitment to using their station in life to do good and give back.
Below are just some of Philadelphia’s champions both on and off the field. Whether they’re supporting local youth, standing up for mental healthcare, or spreading their wealth, our athletes, their bosses, and at least one mascot leave a lasting positive mark on Philadelphia. Here’s some of what they did in 2025.
Lane Johnson, Eagles: Mental Health Warrior
The Birds two-time Super Bowl champion, five-time All-Pro and six-time Pro Bowl O-lineman has been open for over a decade about his struggles with anxiety and depression. This season Johnson began using his voice in The Citizen to spread awareness about caring for mental health, especially in the world of sports, where an estimated 50 to 60 percent of athletes deal with some form of mental distress.
Each week, Johnson spotlights mental health champions and programs in the cities the Birds are playing that week. So far, he’s covered the friends who have helped him along his journey, youth-focused, and his personal mentors.
His motivation? We’ll let Lane take it from here:
It’s really important to me to keep talking about mental health. Other athletes coming forward helped me feel less alone, I want everyone else out there to feel less alone. To see that we’re all more alike than we are different. To understand that there are only so many things in life we can control — and that’s where we should use our energy.
Johnson is also an outspoken advocate — from his actions to his custom cleats on “My Cause My Cleats” day, for the Travis Manion Foundation, a local organization that supports veterans and the families of fallen soldiers.
Jalen Hurts, Eagles: Citizen of the Year
Jalen Hurts, at the 2025 Citizen of the Year Awards.
It was a no-brainer to name Jalen Hurts The Citizen’s 2025 Citizen of the Year. The Eagles quarterback gives back to Philadelphia in profound ways — and we’re not just talking about his MVP-deserving Super Bowl performance this February.
For the 2024-25 football season, Hurts through his foundation donated $5,000 for every touchdown he made to keep Philadelphia schools cool during the hot summer months. Through the “Keep It Cool” initiative, he was able to send $170,000 to Philly schools to purchase and to install air conditioners in schools around the district. That’s 34 touchdowns if you’re keeping count.
For this year’s My Cause, My Cleats, Hurts chose to champion the Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania for the second year in a row. For help designing the cleat, Hurts visited patients at the hospital to get their suggestions. Cue wholesome content. Those very same cleats are now up for auction with all proceeds going to CHOP. The bid is currently at $5,000, with three months left of the auction. Put your bid in here.
A natural at giving a rousing sideline pep talk, the speech Hurts gave at our 2025 Citizen of the Year Awards was a thoughtful call to action for each Philadelphian to help each other out. Get inspired by watching it here.
Kyle Schwarber, Phillies: Designated Do-Gooder
Kyle Schwarber, repping his foundation.
Every Phillies fan’s holiday wish came early when the Phillies announced they’ve settled on a 5-year contract with three-time All-Star Kyle Schwarber. The $150 million deal includes a rare philanthropic clause which has Schwarber donating $150,000 per year — $750,000 — in total from his salary directly to Phillies charities.
Looks like all those times Phillies’ fans chanted “Pay the man!” at Citizens Bank Park this year worked out in everyone’s favor.
Schwarber has a storied history of supporting public safety personnel. This summer, he, through Schwarber’s Neighborhood Heroes, hosted his annual block party at Yards Brewing Co. to benefit first responders and military families. Since 2017, Schwarb’s org has donated more than $770,000 in grants to public safety nonprofits.
The Philadelphia Sports Writers Association recognized Schwarber with their 2025 Ed Snider Humanitarian of the Year Award. Also this year: The Schwarbomber became the second Phillies player to ever reach 50+ home runs in a single season.
A.J. Brown, Eagles: The Giving Receiver
A.J. Brown and friends.
Our star wide receiver’s nickname “Always Open” might not mean to, but it applies to A.J. Brown’s willingness to help local kids.
A.J. Brown launched his foundation in 2024 “to create pathways for youth to build resilience, confidence, and a brighter future. Through programs and support focused on empowerment and opportunity, they help young people believe in themselves, push through challenges, and see success as something within reach.”
How’s he done it? By donating 100 bicycles and helmets to kids in Southwest Philadelphia. Paying for groceries trips for families in New Jersey. Visiting Boys Latin to give students backpacks, school supplies and back-to-school cuts.
Like Lane Johnson, Brown has been open about his own mental health struggles and advocated for mental health awareness. Proceeds from his “Check On Your Teammates” clothing collection go toward mental health research. This May, Mayor Cherelle Parker bestowed the first ever ‘Making a Better Philly Changemaker Award’ on our #11.
Aaron Nola, Phillies: ALS Advocate
Aaron Nola.
Back when this Phillies ace was a rookie, he met up with reps from the ALS Association during a team visit. The brief meeting deeply impacted Nola, whose uncle, Alan Andries, was diagnosed with ALS in 2015.
Since then, the veteran pitcher has been an advocate for people with ALS, raising $250,000 for ALS research with Strike Out ALS bowling tournaments nationwide. In 2025, the MLB’s charitable arm, Players Trust, recognized Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola as 2025’s Philanthropist of the Year for his work with ALS and his work supporting veterans with the nonprofit Team Red, White and Blue, who benefited from his $1,000-per-strikeout promise last year, to the tune of nearly $200,000.
“We’re human beings longer than we are baseball players,” he said upon receiving the honor.
Garnet Hathaway, Flyers: Hath’s Heroes
Hath’s Heroes, including Garnet Hathaway, second from left.
Forward Garnet Hathaway and his wife Lindsay started their nonprofit Hath’s Heroes in 2019 to benefit first responders. Last year, they teamed up with Flyers Charities on the campaign Hits for Hath’s Heroes, which raised $30,000 for Families Behind the Badge Children’s Foundation, a nonprofit that helps connect first responders with mental health resources.
This year, he partnered with Dogfish Head brewery to create a limited edition IPA, Engine 19, whose sales will go to his namesake charity. Of course, the beer is Flyers orange.
Tyrese Maxey, Sixers: Here with the Assist
Tyrese Maxey (center) with Philly Youth Basketball players.
Everyone’s favorite point guard founded his namesake foundation in 2021 to support young people and their families through education, athletics and community initiatives. This year, Maxey hosted a night of giving dinner, celebrity golf tournament and basketball skills camp for 7-to-12-year-olds. No word on whether part of those skills involved using a can opener.
Maxey is also the team’s top contributor to Assists for Safe Communities, a collaboration between the Sixers and Penn Medicine, that donates $76 to grassroots violence prevention programs in Philly for every assist the team gets on the court. (He leads the team in assists.) The initiative raised $144,476 last year, contributing to: Design FC, Free All Minds Academy, Level Up Philly, Open Door Abuse Awareness Prevention, Ordinarie Heroes, and The Apologues.
Jeffrey Lurie, Eagles: A Champion for the Autism Community
Lurie Autism Institute announcement with, from left: CHOP CEO Madeline Bell, Mayor Cherelle Parker, and Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie.
This year, the Eagles owner donated $50 million — “largest single donation to U.S. academic medical centers focused on autism research across the lifespan,” according to Penn — to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Penn Medicine to develop the Lurie Autism Institute for research into and development of innovative treatments for autism spectrum disorder.
The center expands on Lurie’s commitment to supporting individuals affected by autism. He’s overseen the Eagles’ Autism Foundation since 2018 — and since donated more than $40 million to autism research and support. Under his leadership, the Birds became the NFL’s first team to have a sensory experience room in its stadium. No coincidence Eagles mascot Swoop regularly wears headphones.
John Middleton, Phillies: Art Collector Turned Art Sharer
Philadelphia Phillies owner John Middleton looks on at the Phillies Wall of Fame ceremony prior to a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Friday, August 1, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola).
The Philadelphia Phillies owner isn’t just a collector of All-Star-worthy baseball players. For the past 50 years, the scion of a family cigar fortune has collected fine 19th and 20th century American art — and, in the process, earned status as one of the world’s top 200 art collectors.
Until now, the Middleton Family Collection has been very private. That changes April of next year, when both the Philadelphia Art Museum and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art will display a groundbreakingly expansive — 1,000 works! — exhibition entitled Nation of Artists. Will Jasper Johns’ Flag, which Middleton is rumored to have purchased for $28.6 million, be there? Only one way to find out: Check out the self-funded exhibition — which opens a few days after the Phils season starts.
Honorable Mention: Gritty, Flyers — Calendar Model … For Good
The Flyers’ Gritty. Photo courtesy of the PHLCVB.
Less an athlete and more a Philly’s very own deity, the delightfully weird goggly-eyed orange fuzzball with a cult following posed for his very own calendar to be there with you every step of the way in 2026. Each month features a photo of Gritty at Philadelphia landmarks — wearing costumes to boot — alongside handwritten notes from the legend himself.
All proceeds from calendar sales go to Flyers charities, dedicated to two main causes: eliminating financial barriers to hockey, a notoriously expensive sport, and aiding local families affected by cancer.
The Wenatchee Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services Department will host its annual Bundle Up Fest – Youth Sports & Activities Fair at Pybus Public Market later this month.
Once again the event will feature a wide array of activities for people of all ages, including hay rides; a petting zoo, kids carnival; and arts-and-crafts.
This year’s event will also feature 22 local sports and activities organizations offering more information about their services.
“We’ll have information on everything from dance to soccer to flag football, lacrosse, and baseball,” says Parks & Rec spokesperson, Caryl Andre. “Pretty much anything that your kids might want to participate in, come to the Fair and you can find out more about it and maybe even get signed up.”
Andre adds that event-goers can also sign up to participate in a family-friendly 5k fun run, and says there’ll be a variety of vendors and even a bonfire where folks can gather to stay warm with a hot cup of cocoa and a s’more.
The event will be held on Saturday, Jan. 17 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
For more information, you can see the Wenatchee Parks & Rec Department Facebook page or call 509-888-3284.
5 of the Best Places To Hike During the Winter in Washington State
Here are 5 places to hike during the winter with truly gorgeous views in Washington State.
SALT LAKE CITY — It appeared that nothing could erase the pure exuberance from the few dozen children as they ran out onto the new Utah Jazz-themed basketball court at the Northwest Recreation Center to secure a ball.
Soon after, the rambunctious bunch — clad in purple shirts — eagerly dribbled around the court before taking in some instructions during a Junior Jazz hoops clinic. It was a fun way to break in the new surface at the recreation center in Salt Lake City’s Fairpark neighborhood.
This is now the 26th “community court” that the Utah Jazz have sponsored across northern Utah, but the first of eight renovations planned through an initiative partnership with Delta Air Lines to refurbish eight courts over the next seven years, said Chris Barney, president of revenue and commercial strategy at Smith Entertainment Group.
Chris Barney, Utah Jazz revenue and commercial strategy president, speaks during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a refurbished basketball court, funded by Delta Airlines in partnership with the Utah Jazz, at the Northwest Recreation Center in Salt Lake City on Monday. (Photo: Kristin Murphy, Deseret News)
“These community courts matter. They create access, remove barriers and give kids a safe, high-quality place to play, learn and grow through sports,” he said, adding that the project will ultimately improve the “landscape” of youth basketball in the region.
The newly designed court isn’t quite like the Delta Center, but the children took to it as if it were the next best thing. It features a purple baseline with Utah Jazz logos, topped with a J-Note similar to the home court at the Delta Center. A pair of Jazz-themed murals with the “mountain basketball” motif is plastered by the entrance of the gym, adding to the experience.
Jazz Bear made a special appearance to cap the NBA feel, blasting the crowd with confetti after cutting the ribbon to celebrate the new court.
The new design might help kids connect with the county-run recreation center and with their community, said Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson, who attended the ceremony. The county has partnered with the Junior Jazz program for decades, accounting for some of the 2 million youth who have participated since it was established in 1983, while over 50,000 volunteer coaches have come from the county since the program started.
Malachi Gonzales, 9, dribbles during a Junior Jazz basketball clinic on a refurbished basketball court, funded by Delta Airlines in partnership with the Utah Jazz, at the Northwest Recreation Center in Salt Lake City on Monday. (Photo: Kristin Murphy, Deseret News)
In addition to helping finance the new court, Delta covered the costs for a few hundred Junior Jazz players, which helps families manage spending, she said.
“Basketball … builds identity, of who we are as individuals and what we’re capable of,” added Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall, later pointing out the importance Junior Jazz had in her family after her father’s death.
“Our story is actually part of hundreds of thousands of stories, of families who would otherwise couldn’t have afforded or wouldn’t have known how to access a competitive team that cost a lot of money, and was hard to get onto,” she said.
The Key Takeaways for this article were generated with the assistance of large language models and reviewed by our editorial team. The article, itself, is solely human-written.
From the frozen ponds and lakes to the packed indoor rinks serving as community hubs, hockey is uniquely celebrated and cherished in Minnesota like no other state in the country.
“It’s something that we play all year round both in the city community organization, but then all the way through AAA hockey as well,” said hockey dad Jimmy Mullen.
Kids often learn to skate not long after learning to walk, fueling a potential passion for the winter sport.
“My youngest is in mites and my oldest is a squirt,” said hockey mom Kristina Hill of Andover.
Hockey is the sport Hill grew up in, something many Minnesotans can relate.
“It’s just kind of woven into the fabric,” said Jeremy Reed, executive director of Minnesota Hockey, the governing body of youth and amateur hockey in the state.
How many kids in Minnesota play hockey? Reed said the latest numbers show 54,921 as of Dec. 17, 2025. The numbers he shared for this year include adults ages 19 and up, of which there are about 8,000.
For the previous 2024-2025 season, Minnesota Hockey had 50,597 participants ages 18 and under playing for local associations and recreation leagues.
That’s most of any state in the country by a longshot. Massachusetts comes in second at around 40,120 kids ages 18 and under. New York was third with 36,180, followed by Michigan with 24,391. In Wisconsin, there were 17,986 kids last season.
What’s led to such high participation in Minnesota?
“Part of that is because the way hockey is delivered in the communities with the community support and the support for the rinks and the public-owned rinks,” said Reed.
There are over 230 indoor ice rinks in Minnesota, according to Rinkside Advertising Network. Come winter, hundreds more form outdoors so long as Mother Nature allows.
“We live just two minutes from our rink, and we’ve got a handful of outdoor rinks in Andover,” said Hill.
“We get a chance to skate with people from Florida, people that come up from Chicago. They always tell us real quick about how close the rinks are [in Minnesota],” said Mullen.
What’s the time commitment parents new to hockey can expect?
“It’s a lot, it’s definitely a labor of love getting the kid to the rink early on the weekends,” said Hill.
“We skate, you know, probably two hours a day at some points, during the weekends we’re twice a day,” said Mullen, admitting his family is on the high side of the spectrum in terms of time commitment.
Reed said how much time a family spends going to rinks for practice and games will depend on the level of competition they’re seeking. The state’s rec league program, which has just one night of practice and one day of games per week, offers an easy entry for families new to the competitive side of the sport.
“The nice part is it’s not a one-size-fits-all approach. You can certainly tailor it to how you want,” said Mullen.
More than 14,000 girls under 18 played local association hockey in Minnesota last year. That ranked number one in the nation.
Minnesota Hockey created a guide for parents new to the sport on what to expect, including budgeting. Click here to learn more.
GREENVILLE — Funeral services for John Wesley Brewer, Sr., 95, of Greenville, who passed Saturday, Jan. 3, at Bolivar Medical Center, Cleveland, will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 7, at Emmanuel Baptist Church, Greenville. The family will receive friends from 9 a.m. until the start of the service.
Rev. Chris Vowell will be officiating. Serving as pallbearers are Bogan Anderson Brewer, James Burland Young III, John Brewer Young, Jeffrey Blair Young, Jarrod Brock Young, and Daniel Thomas Morgan and serving as honorary pallbearers are John Austin Brewer and Lee Ellis Brewer, Jr.
A graveside service will be held at 3 p.m. at Stonefield Church of God Cemetery in Cascilla.
John Wesley, as he was known, was born to the late Rev. Luther Harrison and Allie Beatrice Scallion Brewer in Cascilla Dec. 5, 1930. He was raised in a loving and faith-filled home and made his profession of faith in Christ as a boy. John Wesley was educated in the Drew public schools and later at Mississippi Delta Junior College and Delta State University.
He served in the United States Navy aboard the USS Rendova (CVE-114) during the Korean War and later during Operation Ivy before being honorably discharged for his service. He was a 32nd Degree Master Mason and a proud member of the American Legion and the VFW. He has a long service record to Washington County with participation in the Greenville Chamber of Commerce, the Exchange Club, and the Salvation Army. He dearly loved youth sports in the Delta where he coached YMCA football and officiated high school football for 21 years.
John Wesley was a business man who started his career at D. Canale & Co. out of Memphis, and later operated Delta Electronics. He was materials manager for Cleaver Brooks Boiler Manufacturing before buying Dixie Fire Equipment Co. In 1995, he co-founded Advanced Welding and Industrial Supply with his son before retiring in 2022.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, Frances Lucille Jefcoat Brewer; four brothers, Davis Brewer, Oliver Brewer, Lee Ellis Brewer, and L.H. Brewer, Jr.; and three sisters, Velma Brewer Goss, Rebecca Jo Brewer Cooksey and Betty Sue Brewer Willard; and his son-in-law, Ben Sayle.
He is survived by three children, Jeffrey Sayle of Greenville, John (Terri) Brewer, Jr. of Greenville, and Susan (Jimmy) Young of Cascilla; as well as six siblings, Thelma Staton, Herbert (Margaret) Brewer, Faye Ridgeway, Jim Brewer, Sharon (Richard) Brown, and Bobby (Carol) Brewer; ten grandchildren, Kelly (Dan) Morgan, Liz Sayle, Allie Sayle, John Austin Brewer, Bogan Brewer, Kaylynn Brewer, Burland Young, Brewer Young, Blair Young, and Brock Young; as well as a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.
Donations in his memory can be made to Navy Safe Harbor Foundation and Sacred Space of Greenville.
Register online and express condolences at www.mortimerfh.com
Seeger Youth Basketball is offered to any student in kindergarten to second grade currently attending Williamsport, Warren Central, and Pine Village Elementary Schools.
According to information provided, each grade will have it’s own co-ed teams, and it will allow every player to get a chance to learn the game! We will emphasize skill development, good sportsmanship, and teamwork. This league will be held on each Sunday in February at the PAC Feb. 1 to Feb. 22. Thirty minutes of practice followed by a 30 minute game will be included. Registration cost is $30 per child helps cover the cost of their jersey and supplies. $15 per child covers participation fee (if you decide to use their jersey from last year) Cash or check labeled and sent in to your school office will be accpeted. There are volunteer options if payment is a concern so organizers say don’t let that stop you from signing up.
Please Click the Google Form for more info and to register a player at https://forms.gle/2aPBgXpgAsXvM1fbA
Follow the Facebook Group Seeger K-2 Basketball for more information. Any questions please contact Bobbie Schmid (765)585-3574 or reach out on the Facebook page.
The Fredonia Recreation Department is hosting its annual Youth Basketball Program for any student(s) who live in the Fredonia Central School District.
The program runs each Saturday from noon-2 p.m. and is free of charge.
This year the program begins Saturday, Jan. 10 and concludes on Saturday, Feb. 14.
Participants do not need to be present each week to be part of the program. Grades 1-4 will take place at Wheelock Elementary School and grades 5-8 will be at the high school gym.
Instruction and games this year will be provided by the Fredonia High School basketball coaching staff and players.
The Fredonia Recreation Department is hosting its annual Youth Basketball Program for any student(s) who live in …
FREDONIA — Emily Lillie drilled a 178-216-213-607 to lead the Forestville girls to a 3-1 win over Cassadaga …
CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY HOCKEY ASSOCIATION
A LEAGUE
Justin Giles and Derek Sheridan each scored a goal for 64 on the …
MAYVILLE — Joey Abuhmeidan scored 19 points and hit three of Chautauqua Lake’s nine 3-pointers in a 73-46 …
MORE SPORTS COVERAGE FROM THE CITIZEN
