Penn Medicine, 76ers Fund Six Local Groups
Six Philadelphia organizations will share funding raised through assists recorded by 76ers athletes during the 2026-27 NBA season.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Philanthropy
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Penn Medicine and the Philadelphia 76ers announced six local organizations will receive funding through Assists for Safe Communities this season. The program donates $76 for every assist recorded by a 76ers athlete, with proceeds divided among the newly selected recipients.
Why it matters
The initiative directs sports-linked giving toward community violence prevention in Philadelphia, a city where the program's partners operate. It builds on a partnership between Penn Medicine and the 76ers that dates back to 2022 and is now in its third year.
The program pays $76 per assist, and the 76ers recorded 2,019 assists in 2025-26 that raised more than $153,000 for prior recipients. The total raised for the 2026-27 recipients has not yet been reported.
The players
Penn Medicine
Penn Medicine is the academic health system of the University of Pennsylvania that runs the violence recovery program partnering with the 76ers.
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are an NBA franchise based in Philadelphia that partners with Penn Medicine on the assist-based giving program.
VJ Edgecombe
VJ Edgecombe is a 76ers player who joined a panel on mental health and overcoming adversity for participants in the Free All Minds Academy.
Rodney Babb
Rodney Babb is the violence recovery program coordinator at Penn Medicine who spoke on a mental health panel for Free All Minds Academy participants.
The details
Penn Medicine and the 76ers jointly host the Assists for Safe Communities program, which was first held during the 2024-25 NBA season. Proceeds are divided among each of the six newly selected recipient organizations, and participants in the Free All Minds Academy attended a panel on mental health featuring 76ers player VJ Edgecombe and Penn Medicine violence recovery program coordinator Rodney Babb.
Timeline
2022: Penn Medicine and the 76ers partnership begins.
2024-25 NBA season: The joint violence prevention program is first hosted.
2025-26 season: The 76ers record 2,019 assists, raising more than $153,000.
2026-27 NBA season: Six new recipients are funded through assists this season.
Philanthropy Context
The Penn Medicine and 76ers partnership, which began in 2022, has now grown into a jointly hosted program in its third year. The assist-based giving model ties community funding directly to on-court performance during each season.
Each assist recorded by a 76ers athlete this season generates a $76 donation to local organizations. Residents in the Philadelphia area may see the funded groups expand their community violence-prevention work.
The takeaway
Sports fans can see how individual performance on the court can translate into direct community funding. Tracking season assist totals offers a simple way to follow the program's reach.
Further reading
Explore more local giving stories in Philadelphia Philanthropy coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Former Penn President Liz Magill earned $4.46 million the year following her resignation - The Daily Pennsylvanian.
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