From grief to hope: ABHMS partner supports children and youth in Philadelphia through basketball

VALLEY FORGE, PA (02/18/2026)—Garry Mills lost 18 family members and friends to gun violence in Philadelphia, and to process his grief, he played basketball. One day in 2010, when he invited friends to play, 400 people showed up. That was when Garry realized that people in his neighborhood—especially young men—really need a safe, positive space.

Garry Mills

Youth across the city, often traumatized and alienated, face conflicts fueled by social media and various neighborhood triggers. In 2021, Philadelphia experienced its most violent year ever, with over 562 people killed in shootings. Two years later, the city lost 375 residents to gun violence. This is a structural problem: over 90 percent of the victims are male, and over 95 percent are Black or Brown. Basketball, the most popular sport in Philadelphia, can be a gateway to safety and healing.

Garry Mills did not plan to organize that day. He was simply working through his losses. But he realized he had a solution in hand, and so in 2013 he founded Shoot Basketballs Not People (SBNP), a ministry that uses basketball to save and change lives.

“Our mission is to use basketball as a vehicle to change and save lives by focusing on helping youth,” said Mills, now executive director of SBNP. “We provide resources, supportive services, education, and guidance to develop positive interactions.” The former head coach of the Philly Hurricanes youth association and a 2023 Invested Faith Fellow, Mills was also featured in the documentary “Bad Things Happen in Philadelphia.”

The SBNP program, funded by an ABHMS grant, serves 100 children from low-income families in Germantown. It addresses children’s well-being holistically, integrating physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual approaches to support them. In addition to basketball coaching, it includes mentorship, mindfulness and yoga practice, and tools to develop one’s emotional intelligence. There are plans to expand the program nationally.

SBNP embodies leadership, discipleship, and community healing, which reflect ABHMS values. You can help create safe spaces where children and youth can flourish and  become tomorrow’s leaders. Donate today.

By Rev. Dr. Anna Piela, ABHMS senior writer and associate editor of The Christian Citizen