A Brief History

 Joe Carey and the late Al Lewis, one of the first African Americans to play basketball at (then) LaSalle College - were the key components, architect, and founders behind the scenes of organization. Local (former) basketball players would often meet at a designated eatery and reminisce about their glory days of playing high school and recreational basketball in Philadelphia. The reminiscing and conversations would often shift to the athletes and community leaders who came before them - that nurtured and mentored them as youngsters growing up in the various neighborhoods.

Al Lewis consulted with his good friend Jay Norman, a standout player in the late 1950s on the Temple University teams alongside with Guy Rogers and Hal Lear, a plan and effort to devise a way of honoring those athletes’ and community leaders for their invaluable services in giving back. In 2002, a luncheon was organized with the late NFL football legend Johnny Sample as the Master of Ceremonies, honoring Frank Washington, Tick Coleman, Horace Wilkie, Bill Berry, John Green and Bus King.

In 2010, the organization became a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation with the express purpose of honoring people from the sports and culture community and providing college scholarships to graduating high school seniors. A Donor Advised Fund has been established at the Philadelphia Foundation to make funds available for future named high school graduating seniors continuing their education. Also, in addition to scholarships, any local athletic and/or community organizations in need are also assisted and considered (monetary support) upon written requests. 

The annual Legends Banquet continues to be one of the few gatherings that Honor deserving Community Leaders from the arts, culture, and sports genre within the same event.