Sixers CEO Gives Pep Talk At Salvation Army Awards Ceremony

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- At the Salvation Army "Expect Change" awards at the Army's Kroc Center in Camden, people and businesses were recognized for their impact on the community. The crowd also got a pep talk on life and sports from a key player in the 76ers front office.

Philadelphia 76ers CEO Scott O'Neil, who gave the keynote address, talked about why the club loves Camden, where it has a state of the art practice facility, and shared insights on Coach Brett Brown, which might prove useful to those of us not on his roster.

"He had the letters W-M-I written on the top of all of his notepads and all of the white boards all over the place," O'Neill said.

The crowd wondered.

"Does anybody have any idea [what those letters stand for]? I didn't either for about a year, I was staring at it," O'Neill said. "What's Most Important. Isn't that great?"

For O'Neil, it's family and faith.

"And I would invite you in the next week or so to focus on what's most important," he said. "Then, ask yourself, 'Am I spending time on what's most important?'"

Then, to the delight of everyone, O'Neil turned to the young 76ers - average age 21 - and its emerging goal to make the playoffs this year.

"We always start with character and good teammates," he said. "It certainly helps to be 7-foot-2, 280. We have one of those named Joel Embiid."

Or think about point guard Ben Simmons.

"Six-foot-10 massive mound of granite barreling down the lane," O'Neill said, "and it's pretty special."

The 2017 Expect Change Award recepients included:

- Outstanding Corporate Volunteer Partner - Campbell Soup Company
-Outstanding Foundation Partner - Horizon Foundation for New Jersey
-Outstanding Community Partner - Camden County Police Chief Scott Thomson
-Outstanding Individual Partner - Frank Robertson
-Outstanding Service - Majors Paul and Alma Cain of The Salvation Army

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