2026 Be A Hero Benefit & Celebration

A Historic Night: Celebrating 20 Years at Be A Hero

On May 14, Team Up Philly gathered with supporters, partners, alumni, and friends for a truly unforgettable evening as we celebrated our 20th Annual Be A Hero Benefit & Celebration.

The night honored two extraordinary champions of our mission: Coach Lowell Rich, recipient of the Jay Barry Harris Hero of the Year Award, and Carrie Gish Rockford, Esq., recipient of our inaugural Legacy Award. Their dedication, leadership, and commitment to creating opportunities for young people embody the values that have guided Team Up Philly for the past two decades.

As we reflected on 20 years of impact, we were reminded of what makes Team Up Philly so special: a community that believes in the power and potential of every girl we serve.

That belief was on full display throughout the evening. Thanks to our incredible sponsors, donors, and auction participants, Be A Hero 2025 became our most successful benefit to date. Together, we reached a historic fundraising milestone, providing critical resources that will help Team Up Philly continue delivering transformative after-school, mentorship, and enrichment programs for years to come.

The impact of the evening is already being felt. Through the generosity of our sponsors, 52 summer scholarships were funded, ensuring that Team Up Philly girls will have access to safe, enriching, and empowering summer experiences. These scholarships open doors to new opportunities, friendships, and memories that will last a lifetime.

While the evening celebrated our past, it was also a powerful investment in our future. The support shown at Be A Hero will help us continue expanding opportunities for girls across Philadelphia, empowering them to lead healthy, confident, and successful lives.

To everyone who sponsored, attended, donated, bid in the auction, volunteered, and supported Team Up Philly's mission: thank you. Your generosity made this historic night possible.

As we look ahead, we are filled with gratitude and excitement. If the past 20 years have shown us anything, it is that when a community comes together on behalf of young people, extraordinary things can happen.

Here's to the next 20 years of impact.