Philadelphia Eagles’ Jalen Hurts and Jason Kelce Named 2023 John Wanamaker Athletic Award Co-Winners

Philadelphia Eagles’ Jalen Hurts and Jason Kelce Named 2023 John Wanamaker Athletic Award Co-Winners

Former Saint Joseph’s University athletic director Don DiJulia, local after-school sports program Safe-Hub and Foday Turay of Salone FC also honored

PHILADELPHIA – Today PHL Sports, a division of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB), in partnership with the City of Philadelphia, announced Jalen Hurts and Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles as 2023 John Wanamaker Athletic Award co-winners. The award has been presented since 1961 to the athlete, team or organization which has done the most to reflect credit upon Philadelphia and the team or sport in which they excel.

Hurts led the Eagles to a 14-3 regular season and an NFC East title in the 2022-2023 season. He was later named to his first career Pro Bowl, second team All-Pro, and was runner up for NFL’s Most Valuable Player Award.

“It’s an honor to be the 2023 John Wanamaker Athletic Award recipient and to be recognized by PHL Sports at this level,” said Hurts. “It means even more to receive this honor alongside my teammate and friend, Jason Kelce. He has played an integral role in my journey with the Philadelphia Eagles and is a key component to our team. I respect the DNA of Philadelphia and I’m proud to represent the city wherever I go. The support that I have from the city and fans around the world propels me to excel in everything that I do. It’s really a Philly thing.”

Kelce was named a first team All-Pro for the fifth time in his career last season. He was also named to his sixth career Pro Bowl and was a vital piece of the Eagles’ number one-ranked running offense.

“It is an honor to be recognized by PHL Sports as a co-recipient of the prestigious John Wanamaker Athletic Award,” said Kelce. “What makes this even more rewarding for me personally is that I get to share it with Jalen – a great teammate, friend, and competitor who loves this city as much as I do. To be mentioned in the same breath with some of the past Wanamaker Award recipients is humbling. I want to thank PHL Sports once again for this recognition and would like to extend my congratulations to all the honorees this year.”

The David P. Montgomery Lifetime Achievement Award winner is Don DiJulia, former Saint Joseph’s University (SJU) vice president for athletics. In 2018, DiJulia completed his 50th year overall in college athletics and his 35th, and last, as SJU athletic director. During his tenure, DiJulia oversaw tremendous growth in the athletics programs, including the addition of five varsity programs and the enhancement of the student-athlete experience. A staple of the SJU community, he now serves as special assistant to the president, acting as representative of the university and president on campus, to alumni and external constituents. He was also a long-time PHL Sports Advisory Board member.

Safe-Hub Philadelphia, an after-school sports program which serves children in the city’s Kensington neighborhood, has been named the Robert P. Levy Community Service Award winner. Founded in South Africa in 2007 and started in Philadelphia in 2019, Safe-Hub uses sport as a vehicle to bring young people together, empower the next generation of leaders and rejuvenate community spaces. In Kensington, they offer a safe space to access high-quality after-school sports programs that create an ecosystem for meaningful and long term social and economic change.

Philadelphia Department of Parks and Recreation named Foday Turay, team manager of Salone FC, as the Sports Volunteer of the Year. Turay runs the soccer program at Connell and Suffolk Parks in Southwest Philadelphia and has organized the Sierra Leone men’s team in all seven of their appearances in the Philadelphia International Unity Cup.

“We are thrilled to recognize the best of the best in Philadelphia’s sports community,” said Gregg Caren, PHLCVB president and CEO. “This year’s winners have made a huge impact on our community in their own ways and represent all the things we love about sports in Philadelphia – determination, heart, authenticity and passion.”

The John Wanamaker Athletic Award is presented each year by PHL Sports, the City of Philadelphia, The Philadelphia Inquirer and CBS3. The winners will all be recognized at an awards luncheon next year. Learn more here.

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About the PHLCVB:
The Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB) creates positive economic impact across the Philadelphia region, driving job growth and promoting the health and vibrancy of our hospitality industry by marketing the destination, the Pennsylvania Convention Center, and attracting overnight visitors. The PHLCVB’s work engages our partners, the local Philadelphia community as well as culturally and ethnically diverse regional, national and international convention, sporting event and tourism customers. The PHLCVB is also the official tourism promotion agency for the city of Philadelphia globally and is responsible for growing the number of overseas leisure visitors who come to the region each year. To learn more, visit DiscoverPHL.com.

About PHL Sports:
PHL Sports, a business development division of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, seeks to attract major sporting events and conventions to the Philadelphia area. PHL Sports, working in conjunction with the City of Philadelphia, the city’s professional teams and universities, has attracted many events to the city and is currently working on bids for future sporting events. To learn more, visit www.DiscoverPHL.com/sports.