Students at Philadelphia Academy Charter High School created the Play Like a Champion: Philly Sports Initiative, a youth-led project designed to engage and inspire underserved Philadelphia youth through sports. Students recognized that many young people face significant barriers to participating in sports, including a lack of equipment. The students set a goal of providing sporting equipment while promoting the long-term benefits of sports, including physical health and social development.

The project was accomplished through three phases. First, the students organized a showcase assembly at their grade school to raise awareness about the benefits of sports. Second, the students held a sports equipment drive to benefit local recreational centers. Lastly, they forged a partnership with the Philadelphia Phillies and their ballgirls team to generate excitement and draw attention to the initiative. The equipment the students collected was donated to the Alan Horwitz "Sixth Man" Center and the Fox Chase Recreational Center.