2021 marks the 50th presentation of the John Wanamaker Athletic Award, which is presented to the athlete, team or organization which has done the most to reflect credit upon Philadelphia and to the team or sport in which they excel. The award is presented each year by PHL Sports — a division of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau — The Wanamaker Building, The Philadelphia Inquirer and CBS3.
Two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup™ champion Carli Lloyd was announced as the 2021 John Wanamaker Athletic Award winner.
Natasha Cloud, WNBA Washington Mystics guard and social justice advocate, was named the Robert P. Levy Community Service Award winner.
1961, Chuck Bednarik, Center and Linebacker
Philadelphia Eagles
1962, Frank Budd, Track Star
Villanova University
1963, John E. Wideman, Captain, Basketball Team
University of Pennsylvania
1964, Gene Mauch, Manager
Philadelphia Phillies
1965, The Vesper Boat Club
Olympic Champions
1966, Pete Retzlaff, Tight End
Philadelphia Eagles
1967, Wilt Chamberlain, Center
Philadelphia 76ers
1968, Joe Frazier
Heavyweight Boxing Champion
1969, Jumbo Elliott, Head Track Coach
Villanova University
1970, William Hyndman, III
Amateur Golfer
1971, Joe Frazier
Heavyweight Boxing Champion
1972, University of Pennsylvania
Basketball Team
Ivy League & Big Five Title Winner
1973, Steve Carlton, Pitcher
Philadelphia Phillies
1974, Bobby Clarke and The Philadelphia Flyers
1975, Bernie Parent, Goalie
Philadelphia Flyers
1976, Fred Shero, Coach
Philadelphia Flyers
1977, Mike Schmidt, Third Baseman
Philadelphia Phillies
1978, Julius Erving, Forward
Philadelphia 76ers
1979, Bill Bergey, All-Pro Linebacker
Philadelphia Eagles
1980, Flyers & 76ers
Flyers/Stanley Cup Finals
76ers/NBA Finals
1981, Philadelphia Phillies
1980 World Series Champions
1982, Widener College, Football Team
Division III Champions
1983, Steve Carlton, Pitcher
Philadelphia Phillies
1984, Moses Malone, Center
Philadelphia 76ers
1985, Villanova University, Basketball Team
NCAA Champions
~ 5 Year Absence ~
1991, Lionel Simmons, Forward
LaSalle University Basketball
1992, Charles Barkley, Forward
Philadelphia 76ers
1993, Reggie White, Defensive End
Philadelphia Eagles
1994, Philadelphia Phillies
National League Champions
1995, University of Pennsylvania
Men’s Football & Basketball Teams
1997, Dawn Staley, David Reid & Michael Matz
Philadelphia Olympians
1999, Philadelphia Phantoms
Calder Cup Champions
2001, Philadelphia 76ers
2002, Donovan McNabb, Quarterback
Philadelphia Eagles
2003, Villanova Women’s Basketball Team
2005, Dawn Staley
Olympian Temple Women’s Basketball Coach
2007, Ryan Howard
Philadelphia Phillies
2008, Jimmy Rollins, Shortstop
Philadelphia Phillies
2009, Philadelphia Phillies
2008 World Series Champions
2010, Villanova University Football Team
2010 FCS National Champions
2011, Roy Halladay, Pitcher
Philadelphia Phillies
2012, Claude Giroux
Philadelphia Flyers
2013, Bernard Hopkins
Boxer
2014, LeSean McCoy
Philadelphia Eagles
2015, Taney Dragons
Little League World Series Team
2016, Villanova Wildcats
NCAA Men’s Basketball Champions
2017, Dawn Staley
Temple basketball legend
2018, Philadelphia Eagles
Super Bowl Champions
2019, Fran Dunphy
Head Coach, Temple University Men’s Basketball
A comprehensive list of past winners of the community service award. The Robert P. Levy Community Service Award is presented to the individual, business or organization which has done the most to contribute to the quality of life in Philadelphia through sports.
1996, The Flyers’ Wives Fight for Lives
1997, Sonny Hill
1998, Police Athletic League
1999, Philadelphia Youth Tennis
2000, Pat Croce
2001, PDR Swim Team
2002, Joe Hand Boxing Gym
2003, Philadelphia Phillies
2004, Coaches vs. Cancer
2005, World B. Free
2006, Afleet and Alex’s Lemonade Stand
2007, Work to Ride
2008, Andy Talley, Villanova football
2009, Temple University football
2010, SquashSmarts
2011, Eagles Youth Partnership
2012, Jerry Segal
2013, Back on My Feet
2014, Black Women in Sport Foundation
2015, Special Olympics Philadelphia
2016, Philadelphia City Rowing
2017, Team Up Philly
2018, Beat The Streets
2019, Give and Go Athletics
The award is presented annually to the “men and women in our community whose exemplary volunteer efforts have made a real difference in the lives of our City’s young people through sports.”
2012, Katie Kirlin Fund
2013, Yolanda Laney
2014, Ruth Bull
2015, Don Richardson
2016, Rahim Thompson
2017, Wayne “Coach Wiz” Allen
2018, Kensington Soccer Club
2019, Andrew and Connie Crews
2000, Jim Tuppeny
2002, Harry Kalas
2003, Bob Levy
2007, Herb Magee
2012, Ed Snider
2014, Tina Sloan-Green
2017, John Chaney
2019, David Montgomery