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Fanatics hosts fan gear giveaway for Philly’s youth with help from Joel Embiid and Tobias Harris

Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin, the Sixers, and Eagles hosted underserved youth at the Wells Fargo Center to distribute free licensed merchandise as part of a nationwide one-day event.

Joel Embiid plays games with kids during the "Merch Madness: Fan Gear Giveaway" hosted by Fanatics at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pa. on Tuesday, June 27, 2023. The youth attendees got to participate in basketball drills with Sixers players Joel Embiid and Tobias Harris, Eagles player Anthony Harris and rapper Lil Baby.
Joel Embiid plays games with kids during the "Merch Madness: Fan Gear Giveaway" hosted by Fanatics at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pa. on Tuesday, June 27, 2023. The youth attendees got to participate in basketball drills with Sixers players Joel Embiid and Tobias Harris, Eagles player Anthony Harris and rapper Lil Baby.Read moreMonica Herndon / Staff Photographer

Sixers stars Joel Embiid and Tobias Harris, along with former Eagles safety Anthony Harris, were greeted by cheers from hundreds of children on Tuesday afternoon at the Wells Fargo Center when they teamed up with Fanatics to help distribute donated merchandise. It was all part of the inaugural 30-city “Merch Madness” event led by Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin, a former Sixers minority owner.

“This is awesome,” Tobias Harris said. “It’s about the kids; it’s about putting smiles on their faces. To be here with Fanatics, giving away amazing merchandise to the kids. They can now walk around with jerseys of their favorite athletes and be around entertainers as well. Some of these kids don’t have opportunities to come to our games, kids who come from [poor] areas. For them to be here, spend this limited time with us, I hope it’s a great time for them.”

Said Rubin: “We feel like we have a responsibility to give back and make a difference. The thing I learned today that I wasn’t expecting to see was how inspired these kids are because they get to shoot hoops with Joel, they get to see Tobi and Anthony. We’re just getting started. This is all about helping the underserved.”

Fanatics hosted local youth clubs at the Sixers’ home arena, where children participated in football and basketball drills while interacting with Embiid, Tobias Harris, and Anthony Harris. Rapper Lil Baby also was on hand.

Athletes and celebrities taking part elsewhere in the one-day nationwide event to distribute $20 million in donated merchandise included Tom Brady, Jayson Tatum, Chris Paul, Eli Manning, Micah Parsons, Quavo, DJ Khaled, and Lil Durk.

Approximately 100,000 undeserved youth and their families departed the Merch Madness giveaways Tuesday with free licensed jerseys, T-shirts, hoodies, hats, and jackets. Fanatics’ overall goal, according to Rubin, is to annually donate $100 million of merchandise to more than 1 million people.

“It’s huge, at the end of the day; it’s an opportunity to give back to the youth and underserved communities,” said Anthony Harris, currently a free agent. “For me, the opportunity to do that and partner with what Michael is doing across different levels, it took a lot of hard work, but it’s a great thing for the community.

“I think the notion of giving back is just a reflection of my life. I’ve had a number of people provide me with opportunities, whether it was supplies to go to camp or free coaching lessons, or whether it was individuals in the community giving words of encouragement. It came from family members and friends, but other times that motivation came from complete strangers. I just want to pay that back as much as I can, as often as I can.”