On Wednesday, the Philadelphia 76ers, in partnership with Penn Medicine, hosted a basketball clinic for 40 youth participants at the Wissahickon Boys & Girls Club as part of the team’s “Healthy Hearts Assembly” program.
The afternoon centered on basketball drills and healthy living, while also teaching the young participants about heart health and the community resources available through Penn Medicine.
Youth participants were joined by Sixers guard Jared McCain, who held a Q&A about his basketball journey and the importance of healthy living as an NBA player. McCain was also joined by 76ers mascot Franklin the Dog, the team’s official dance squad, Squad 76, and the team’s drumline, Sixers Stixers.
The youth basketball clinic is the latest collaborative effort between the 76ers and Penn Medicine. The two became partners in 2022 and have since collaborated on efforts to promote physical activity, support neighborhood safety, and revitalization efforts across Greater Philadelphia. Earlier this year, the two partnered to refurbish Rufus Williams Basketball Court in West Philly.
Before the basketball clinic, Penn Medicine hosted an Automated External Defibrillators (AED) & CPR Training session with Dr. Joshua Glick, MD, for staff and counselors from the Wissahickon Boys & Girls Club, providing them with the resources and techniques on how to use an AED and understand essential CPR training skills. Representatives of the Danny Rumph II Foundation, Viola Owens, Board Chair and mother of Danny Rumph, and Director of Events Mike Morak were also on site for the afternoon.
The Daniel E. Rumph II Foundation was established to honor the memory of Danny Rumph, who tragically passed after suffering cardiac arrest during a pickup basketball game in 2005. There was no defibrillator in the gym when Rumph passed and no one present knew CPR. Had either of those circumstances been different, Rumph’s life could have potentially been saved.
In the years since, the Daniel E. Rumph II Foundation has worked diligently to create safer recreational spaces by equipping them with AEDs and promoting heart health education. The foundation is focused not only on saving lives but also creating a brighter, more secure future for the next generation.
For more information on the Daniel E. Rumph II Foundation, visit danielerumphii.com.
