PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — All stress and anxiety vanished from the room Thursday when Scrapple, Cheerio, and Benedict entered to greet the 76ers employees.
The team brought the furry friends to the training complex in Camden as part of the 76ers' Assist for Safe Communities initiative in partnership with Penn Medicine.
The dogs are with New Leash on Life USA, one of six organizations set to receive $76 for each assist the team completes during the regular season. The initiative is part of the 76ers’ ongoing commitment to supporting local organizations. New Leash on Life is the third group to benefit from the program since it started during the 2023 playoffs.
Mike Goings, the 76ers’ vice president of social responsibility, said the initiative aims to bring awareness to organizations making a positive impact in the community, including violence prevention and mental health services.
New Leash on Life has operated within the Philadelphia Department of Prisons for 14 years and plans to launch a program at George Hill Correctional Facility in Delaware County.
Rob Rosa, senior vice president of programs for the organization, said their mission is to leverage the bond between humans and animals by working with individuals in the prison system.
"They provide that emotional connection with another being and it also gives them a sense of responsibility and something to take care of in life,” Rosa said. “For 11 weeks they're taking care of and living with the dog while they're incarcerated so they're responsible for grooming, bathing feeding, taking the dog out for a walk, and also training them.”
So far, the 76ers have recorded 766 assists, equating to more than $58,000 in donations to organizations like New Leash on Life.