For the second year in a row, the City of Philadelphia joined the Malcolm Jenkins Foundation to bring Get Ready Fest® to families and youth.

On September 12, the Philadelphia Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Office of Children and Families (OCF) joined the Malcolm Jenkins Foundation (MJF), community organizations, sponsors and volunteers for Get Ready Fest® at the Alan Horwitz “Sixth Man” Center, powered and operated by Philadelphia Youth Basketball.

Get Ready Fest® invited more than 800 Philadelphia families to connect with resources, services and opportunities designed to help them move into the season ahead with greater support and confidence.

At the center of this year’s event was one powerful idea: choice.

Giving families options

At Get Ready Fest® 2026, Philadelphia families had access to a range of resources, and the freedom to choose what worked best for them.

Families were welcomed into a pop-up market with enough groceries to support each household for approximately seven to ten days, sponsored by Nourishment Champion, Philabundance. Young people selected winter coats they liked and wanted to wear from among the 1,680 coats provided by Equity Champion, ACME. Guests received blood pressure screenings, health education, Stop the Bleed and CPR demonstrations from Health Equity Sponsor, Jefferson.

Families connected with more than 50 community resource partners to ask questions and discover social services, housing and legal assistance, employment opportunities and more. Children and youth chose books to fill their at-home libraries, played games with friends, got their face painted, and received haircuts. Judo demonstrations allowed everyone, including seniors, to learn the martial artform firsthand, and exercise together as a community.

“Get Ready Fest® gives our youth and families the opportunity to learn, make choices and take action around the things that matter most in their lives — their health, the food they eat, the clothing they wear, the work they do and what they need to thrive,” said Malcolm Jenkins, Malcolm Jenkins Foundation Founder and Chairman, and Community Architect. “So often, we don’t realize that how we help others can be even more important than what we give them. Get Ready Fest® is about dignity, opening doors and making sure every family has what they need to strengthen the future they’re already working toward.”

This year marked the sixth Get Ready Fest® held in Philadelphia and the 16th event overall. The Malcolm Jenkins Foundation launched Get Ready Fest® in Philadelphia in 2014, the same year Malcolm Jenkins joined the Philadelphia Eagles. Since then, Get Ready Fest® has reached more than 11,500 families and 48,000 individuals across five cities in the four states Malcolm has called home throughout his career.

Event goers picking out winter coats from a clothing rack, while wearing red shirts that say "Sincerely, Acme" on the back.

Bringing resources and choices together

For the second year in a row, the City of Philadelphia has joined the Malcolm Jenkins Foundation and the host of community organizations, social service agencies, and non-profits to bring together a network of support for Philadelphia families.

“Get Ready Fest® brings an incredible variety of resources together in one place while giving families the opportunity to choose what works best for them,” said Kimberly Ali, Commissioner of the Philadelphia Department of Human Services. “We are proud to support the Malcolm Jenkins Foundation in creating a space where families have access to essential resources and make meaningful choices within a community already invested in their success. As a proud partner of MJF, we want every family who attends to feel supported, valued, and confident that their needs and voices matter.

A broad network of organizations made Get Ready Fest® 2026 possible. They include ACME with support from Operation Warm , American Airlines, Jefferson, Philabundance with support from Sysco, and Philadelphia Youth Basketball, the event’s venue partner. 

“Get Ready Fest® demonstrates what is possible when government, nonprofit organizations, community partners, corporations and volunteers unite around a shared commitment to Philadelphia’s children and families. When we work together with purpose, we can expand opportunities, strengthen communities, and help families build toward the future they envision for themselves. That is how we create a stronger, more resilient Philadelphia, one family at a time,” said Commissioner Ali.

A volunteer stands behind produce in the pop-up grocery market.

Building connections beyond one day

The impact of Get Ready Fest® extends beyond the resources families take home. The event also creates opportunities for families to discover organizations, services, and people they can continue turning to in their communities.

For families, those connections can mean discovering a new health resource, learning about an employment opportunity, finding additional support for their children, or simply knowing where to turn when they need help.

“Get Ready Fest® is a reflection of who we are as the Malcolm Jenkins Foundation and what we believe is possible when we come together with purpose,” said Gwendolyn V. Jenkins, Malcolm Jenkins Foundation President and CEO. “We are not here simply to give things away. We are here to build connections, open doors, create access, inspire hope and empower families to make the choices that move them forward.”

Get Ready Fest® shows what can happen when families are empowered not only by resources, but also by options, opportunities, and a community committed to supporting their ability to make meaningful decisions for themselves. 

Learn more about the Malcolm Jenkins Foundation and how to support its mission and programs.