Even though Tobias Harris is an NBA veteran on the verge of becoming an All-Star who just signed a five-year, $180 million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, he still has dreams beyond the basketball court.

He wants to own businesses and start his own school or become a principal. He understands the importance of education.

He wants the younger generation to have dreams, too, and that’s why Harris pledged $1 million to be divided among nine non-profit organizations focused on education and unveiled two initiatives, Tobias’ Lit Labs and Tobias’ Top Teachers, which will provide resources for students and teachers.

“I’m a firm believer that knowledge is power, and for me it’s the fact that I can do something that's going to impact the next generation. A lot of that has to do with education,” Harris said.

The groups that will receive money: Read By 4th – Freedom Library of Philadelphia; The Center for Black Education Development (Philadelphia); The Fund for The School District of Philadelphia; Team Up Philly; World Literacy Foundation (Africa); True Love Mission (Haiti); Foundation For Orange County Public Schools (Orlando, Florida); Nap Ford Community Schools (Orlando); Wyandanch (N.Y.) High.

Harris rattles off statistics: two-thirds of Philadelphia third graders cannot read at grade level; one in four children nationwide grow up without learning how to read; 90% of classrooms in developing countries do not have electricity; a study showed that if a black student had just one black teacher in elementary school, their high school dropout rate decreases by 39%.

“A big thing we’re doing here is combating illiteracy and allowing kids to be able to establish themselves as avid readers,” Harris said. “Education is the footprint of getting yourself in the door and helping you be more successful in whatever you do.”

Harris selected organizations in the city he plays in (Philadelphia) or has played (Orlando), plus a school near his New York hometown. He also chose global organizations, including the World Literacy Foundation, which provides solar-powered tablets loaded with educational material to students in classrooms without power.

“I grew up wanting to do great things not only in the sport that I play but also outside of the game of basketball,” Harris said. “To be able to give back to the community, especially Philadelphia where I call home, it’s a true honor for me to do this and partner with some very good organizations.”

He is intent on improving reading scores through those non-profits and his Lit Labs, which will focus on reading and technology.

Harris loves reading and prefers physical books over reading on a tablet. One of his recent reads, The Lost Education of Horace Tate: Uncovering the Hidden Heroes Who Fought for Justice in Schools, inspired him to do more.

“I want kids to be able to pick up a book and feel like that’s cool and not feel any other way about it, and I want kids to also understand that education is cool and being the smartest in the class is a big achievement,” he said.

Education was a big part of Harris’ childhood, and all of his siblings attended college, including his older brother Torrel Jr., who received an academic scholarship to Maryland.

“My parents (Torrel and Lisa) always taught me to make sure I had a Plan A and a Plan B,” Harris said. “I had focused hard on my academics and education. When I got into the league, I did a lot with mentorships and now I’ve been able to come up with a really good plan of being strategic and hitting certain spots I truly believe can be effective.”

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