Philadelphia Youth Sports Collaborative Recognizes Excellence in Philly Sports
The Philadelphia Youth Sports Collaborative is a citywide nonprofit dedicated to strengthening youth sports providers through advocacy, convening and strategic investment. Through initiatives such as the Philly Youth Sports Fund, PYSC supports neighborhood-based programs that expand equitable access to sports and positive youth development opportunities.
Carrying on the Legacy
Once named solely for John Wanamaker, this prestigious award, established in 1961, is given annually to an athlete, team or organization that makes Philly proud. As part of the transition, PYSC honors the award’s legacy by creating the new Montgomery-Wanamaker Award. This award is an ode to both John Wanamaker and former Phillies chairman David P. Montgomery. Montgomery played a pivotal role in preserving the Wanamaker Award. A steadfast advocate for youth sports across Philadelphia, his impact goes beyond wins and losses. Before he died in 2019, Montgomery was a civic force who helped strengthen local communities.
The newly dubbed Montgomery-Wanamaker Citizen Award honors individuals whose influence extends beyond athletic achievement and impacts the city. “We are deeply honored that PHL Sports has entrusted us to carry this legacy forward,” says Beth Devine, executive director of the Philadelphia Youth Sports Collaborative. “The Montgomery-Wanamaker Award represents the very best of Philadelphia sports leadership. By connecting this historic tradition to direct investment in youth sports, we are honoring our past while building opportunity for the next generation.”
Honoree Jordan Mailata
Part of that next generation is the 2026 recipient of the honor: Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Jordan Mailata. Since arriving in Philadelphia in 2018, Mailata has made major efforts to contribute to youth sports. He invests time and resources in youth initiatives, participates in outreach across neighborhoods and supports charitable efforts throughout the region. His sustained engagement with young people reflects the values at the heart of this award. Mailata’s selection reinforces the award’s renewed focus on athletes who embrace representing Philadelphia.
Preventing youth violence in Philadelphia takes center stage at town hall for coaches, leaders, advocates
Organizers said the event was designed to go beyond presentations, giving attendees a chance to collaborate, network and share ideas. Participants identified barriers facing youth organizations — including limited funding, a need for more training, and gaps in support for young people transitioning into adulthood. Attendees also used their phones to vote on which solutions could have the most impact in the next six months.
Police Athletic League Executive Director Erica Vanstone said that kind of feedback is critical.
"We said, let's just sit down and figure out how we can collaborate around what our pressing needs are, what the biggest problems are, and how we could move forward together," Vanstone said.
Coaches and program leaders described how challenges in the community often follow young people onto the field.
"We know that so many teenagers now are getting caught up in so much mishap out in the streets," said Marc Bredell, a coach with the City Youth Association Gators. "So just changing the culture of that age group in the city."
Others emphasized the importance of addressing those issues beyond athletics.
A Philly youth sports organization is creating an award named for Dawn Staley
The award's first winners are the women's basketball coaches of the Big 5: Diane Richardson, Mountain MacGillivray, Denise Dillon, Cindy Griffin, Mike McLaughlin, and Amy Mallon.
North Philly native Dawn Staley is getting a little more love from her hometown.
The Philadelphia Youth Sports Collaborative this week announced the creation of the Dawn Staley Legacy Award.
The award was created to honor those who have shown strong leadership and have made an impact on expanding basketball within the community, especially for women and girls, according to a news release. The award is meant to showcase Staley’s impact on women’s basketball on the court and in the community.
It will be presented at the Philadelphia Sports Legacy Honors on May 20 at the Alan Horwitz “Sixth Man” Center. The inaugural winners of the award are the head coaches of the Big 5 women’s basketball teams: Diane Richardson (Temple), Mountain MacGillivray (La Salle), Denise Dillon (Villanova), Cindy Griffin (St. Joseph’s), Mike McLaughlin (Penn), and Amy Mallon (Drexel).
“Dawn Staley’s impact goes far beyond wins and championships,” Beth Devine, executive director of the PYSC, said in the release. “She has changed what is possible for women in sports and continues to inspire the next generation. It is only fitting that the first recipients of this award are the coaches who are carrying that work forward right here in Philadelphia.”
Staley coached the Temple women from 2000-08, leading the program to six NCAA Tournament appearances. She has coached at South Carolina since 2009 and has won three national championships.
Philly wants more community sports programs for kids. What’s lacking? Dedicated coaches.
As more kids increasingly flock to for-profit programs, community coaches are disappearing. A trend the city hopes to reverse by partnering with programs training teens to become the next generation.
The Octavius Catto Baseball League was founded in 2025 to provide entry-level baseball opportunities for youth ages 6-12. The city says it needs more coaches in leagues like this to combat kids going to for-profit organizations.
Jordan Mailata wins first Montgomery-Wanamaker Citizens Award, which now bears the name of the late Phillies chairman
After 65 years of honoring athletes, organizations, and teams for their on-field success, the John Wanamaker Athletic Award is entering its next chapter — and it’s bringing a new legacy with it.
The newly renamed Montgomery-Wanamaker Citizens Award pays tribute to both Wanamaker and former Phillies president, the late David Montgomery.
As part of the change, the award — which was previously presented to “the athlete, team or organization which has done the most to reflect credit upon Philadelphia and to the team or sport in which they excel” — will now focus more on athletes’ off-field accomplishments. It will honor recipients’ work in their communities and their love for the city.
This year, that’s Jordan Mailata. The Eagles offensive tackle will be the first to receive the Montgomery-Wanamaker Citizens Award, in recognition of his work with The Philly Specials.
New study finds access to youth sports is unequal in Philadelphia. The city looks to change that.
Before the first pitch is thrown, Tyrone Young arrives early to the baseball field at Hunting Park to pick up trash in both dugouts where teenagers gather to play in North Philadelphia’s Heritage Baseball League.
The trash is what he can control. What he can’t fix are the deep holes on the base paths that make it nearly impossible to play when it rains. He believes race has something to do with the condition of his field.
“Certain fields you might go in the Northeast ... their fields are immaculate, but why do ours not look like that?” said Young, who founded the league in 2008.
New Study shows inequality in funding of city recreation programs
A new study has found that sports facilities in Philadelphia neighborhoods with higher percentages of white residents tend to be of higher quality than those in areas with fewer white residents.
The study, conducted by Temple University’s School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management, began in 2023 and observed 1,400 sports facilities across the city that are managed by Philadelphia Parks and Recreation.
Its findings were stark: White neighborhoods had better quality sports facilities, more sports fields, and more permitted sports.
“Moving forward, we know that a larger investment is needed.” said Dontae Privette, the Director of Community Engagement, at Philadelphia Youth Sports Collaborative. He says that in affluent neighborhoods, recreation programs rely on volunteer support and resources but in lower income neighborhoods working parents may not have the time.
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Local university basketball teams gather to show how 'Philly Girls Got Game'
These basketball teams from local universities were brought together for one purpose today.
As part of the "Philly Girls Got Game" event, young kids were inspired by their older peers and learned athletic skills.
It's thanks to the Philadelphia Youth Sports Collaborative (PYSC) and their efforts to bring programming to local kids.
