Sixers and Flyers team up to donate sports gear to Philly kids – NBC10 Philadelphia

The Sixers and Flyers teamed up to give back to the Philadelphia community on Wednesday by giving out $15,000 worth of sports equipment to young athletes at the Scanlon Recreation Center in Kensington.

The Flyers’ Travis Sanheim and Sixers’ Quentin Grimes were on hand, along with Franklin and Gritty, to hand out basketballs, skates, hockey sticks and other sports gear bought from a local store.

The donations especially helped aspiring ice hockey players, as gear for the sport can be expensive for families.

“Yeah, hockey, it’s an expensive sport, so being able to help kids out and show them the game that we love and enjoy playing,” Sanheim said. “And, hopefully it’s something kids take up and enjoy themselves, and they get the opportunity to do it.”

Grimes also told NBC10 that it was important to him to give back and inspire the next generation of athletes.

“It’s a great thing to do. I love giving back to the community,” Grimes told NBC10. “Since I’ve been in the NBA I’m aspiring the youth and doing stuff with people who may not be as fortunate as others. It gives a lot of hope and a lot of inspiration to the youth.”

The event, which was also in partnership with Bank of America, Comcast Spectator and Harris Blitzer Sports, also included a pizza party and a chance to hit the ice with Sanheim.

However, Grimes had a different proposition for his fellow professional athlete.

“I think he should come out and play basketball,” Grimes said. “On skates, I can skate a little bit, but I’ll leave that to my brothers. I’m all good.”

Jim Dever, the president of Bank of America in Greater Philadelphia, also shared how the event was important to him.

“I think it’s unbelievable, and we are in the perfect spot here in Kensington where you can really make some dreams come true,” Dever said. “For the kids, for the parents, and that’s what really, what both the organizations and ourselves, are really involved with.”