Eagles Eye Mobile Program, Eagles Book Mobile Program, Eagles Playground Builds, Eagles Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign and multiple Eagles Go Green initiatives including the stadium conversion for sustainable practices 
- Award Entered:
Sport Team of the Year - Parent Organisation:
The Philadelphia Eagles Football Club - Project Host Nation:
United States - Overview of Project:
The Philadelphia Eagles Football Team recognizes its potential as a social impact thought leader and role model. With this leverage, the team has taken the lead in establishing an award-winning charity (Eagles Youth Partnership - EYP) and cutting edge business practices that demonstrate how a business can do well by doing good. The Philadelphia Eagles were the first professional sports team in the U.S. to: • Establish a charity that brings critical mobile services directly to children in their neighborhoods, where the team is welcomed and embraced, bypassing the common barriers of race, ethnicity and class. Through technical assistance provided by EYP, other NFL teams are following our lead. • Start selling pink Eagles merchandise to raise money and awareness for breast cancer research. The NFL adopted this program League-wide during October (Breast Cancer Awareness Month). Now all 32 teams in the NFL sell pink team merchandise each October, leveraging fan loyalty to raise awareness and $millions for research. • Create a Go Green initiative that combines reuse, recycling and renewable energy sources (100% wind and solar) that remove the team entirely from the electric grid. Now the NFL and 12 of its teams have converted to sustainable business practices.
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Kevin Tedesco: 13 Dec 2011 - 20:52 GMT
Congratulations Philadelphia Eagles! Aramark is a proud partner of the Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field and we have been involved with the EYP for many years. The work Sarah and her group does with the playground build and the eye & book mobiles actually changes the course of all those children's lives. It goes without saying that the Eagles Go Green program is an industry leader when it comes to environmental awareness and is an example for all professional sports teams. Congratulations on the award and continued great work in the community.
Kira B: 04 Dec 2011 - 14:09 GMT
I think this is a great idea for the kids and adults I am very much an Eagles fan myself. I can't believe that they have made difference in other peoples lives and wining an award for this. I am so proud!
Kathleen Unger: 23 Oct 2011 - 20:01 BST
In the mid-‘90s when I helped Jeffrey and Christina Lurie organize Eagles Youth Partnership and its Board of Directors, on which I have served ever since, I knew they were leaders of substance and vision; but I had no idea how positively and deeply they and the Eagles would influence the greater Philadelphia region, let alone nationally and internationally. Early on, EYP was particularly fortunate to have attracted our incomparable Executive Director, Sarah Martinez-Helfman. The Eagles organization’s DNA applies the same extraordinary standards of ambition, strategic focus and energy to the social impact it can effect as it does to its on-field performance; so, too, at EYP we give thoughtful consideration to how we can best leverage the scarce time and attention of our precious players and coaches. Reading the Philadelphia Eagles Community Playbook, “Beyond the Field” (http://prod.static.eagles.clubs.nfl.com/assets/docs/EYP_CommunityPlaybook.pdf) is my idea of a good time! I am inexpressibly proud to be part of EYP and the Eagles community.
Amy Williams, Principal, Wm. Dick School: 23 Oct 2011 - 00:01 BST
Eagles Youth Partnership has supported the William Dick School for several years. They have gone above and beyond not only the world of sports but also exceeded the expectations any school could have for a community organization. They have provided this urban school with a physical transformation from a barren school yard to one adorned with murals, a playground and even a small turf area for play. Although the famous playground build took place in 2007, they have remained involved with our school, supporting students with books (Book Mobile), glasses (Eye Mobile) and numerous other supports. An awesome group of people, dedicated to making their city a better place for those in need! Thanks EYP!
Irene Brown: 18 Oct 2011 - 18:33 BST
It has been my privilege to work closely with Eagles Youth Partnership supporting the Eagles Eye Mobile. Thanks to the dedication and hard work of EYP, thousands of children have access to full vision care, something many of us take for granted. Our children are our future, and that fact is echoed in all of the programs supported by Eagles Youth Partnership. The Philadelphia Eagles Football Organization goes beyond sports every day! GO EAGLES!!!!
Kimberlie Rolek: 18 Oct 2011 - 13:46 BST
I have been a school nurse in Philadelphia for 11 years and the Eagles' Youth Partnership has always been there with their Eye Mobile. They have provided examinations and 2 free pair of glasses to thousands of children. The Eye Mobile comes right to the school and all you have to do as a nurse is to identify the children in need and take them to the Eye Mobile and they do everything else. The kids are excited about the Eye Mobile when it comes and not frightened at all. The only problem is that I wish they could provide services to more children. Every year I have to turn kids away because our cap had been reached. I wish they could do all of the kids needing glasses in the school.
Paula Pendleton: 17 Oct 2011 - 13:46 BST
The Eagles Youth Partnership has helped thousands of children with getting eyeglasses. They have improved the sight and lives of many of these children, and at the same time, giving back to their Philadelphia community. Kudos to you!
Theresa Rambo: 14 Oct 2011 - 16:39 BST
I am a teacher at the John Wister School in Germantown, Pa. The EAGLES built a wonderful playgorund for us and also helped to brighten the outside of our building. They took time out of their busy schedule to come here, meet us, and improve our lives. We had a chance to meet and greet, get signatures, and just hang out. We truly felt like friends. They wanted to be here...They wanted to know our story. We are extremely grateful for them. They are truly a #1 team in our eyes!!!
Donna Smith: 14 Oct 2011 - 12:14 BST
Hello, I am the Principal of John Wister Elementary School and I am so proud of the Eagles placing as finalist for sports Team of the Year!! This year the Eagles partnered with Wister students to help improve not only their reading levels, but also their love for reading. They came to our school in the summer with Story book Man and read stories to our students and gave them tons of books to read. Students shared their books with each other, wrote book reports and even got to share with the Eagles their memories of the stories they fell in love with. Reading is our number focus and the Eagles are right on board to help us help children to reach their goal!! Thank you, Eagles!!!!
Cricket Snearing: 13 Oct 2011 - 03:04 BST
I have been involved as a volunteer for a number of the EYP - Eagles Youth Partnership for a number of years. I first became a volunteer to work with the auction at the Eagle's Carnival where I witnessed the incredible commitment of this organization. The dedication of the owners, coaches, players and their wives, EYP staff and volunteers and fans is not matched anywhere. Where should I start when there's so much to cover? The impact of all aspects of EYP is so far reaching in the Philadelphia community and beyond. The school age children who have eye screenings and glasses and are able to learn better because of better sight through the Eye Mobile, reading to children and giving out books through the Bookmobile, Playgrounds built throughout the community, the Go Gree initiative is so timely with today's concerns about energy and Tackling Breast Cancer initiatives throughout the stadium at games are just a few of the exciting activities of EYP. I can't begin to say enough good things about the Philadelphia Eagles Youth Partnership and they would be a proud recipient of this award.
Meg Wise, Smith Memorial Playground: 12 Oct 2011 - 19:37 BST
Smith Memorial Playground is a 112- year old organization dedicated to promoting opportunities for children in Philadelphia to engage in physical, creative, unstructured play. In May 2011 Smith presented its Ida Newman Magic of Play Award to the Eagles Youth Partnership in recognition of the wonderful ways that EYP serves children and youth in our community. At Smith, we are particularly impressed with the 15 playgrounds the EYP has built in neighborhoods that need them most. EYP represents the standard of excellence for nonprofit, youth-serving organizations in Philadelphia and beyond. Thank you EYP for all you do!
Pat Coulter: 11 Oct 2011 - 22:17 BST
EYP is one of the best kept secrets around! Whenever I talk with anyone about what the organization is doing in the Greater Philadelphia Region, everyone is surprised to learn about this great work. It all came to light for me several years ago when my former assistant came to me with a big hug and a big thank you for helping her grand-daughter get the the glasses she needed so much. Even though my assistant knew that I was on the board of EYP, she never quite got it, in terms of what the value of the EYP really was to so many low-income families in our community. Everyone knows the EAGLES, now with Eagles Youth Partnership's great work, eveyone will know how much further the power of the EAGLES can spread to do a lot of good in our urban communities. I am happy to keep spreading the word!
David Binswanger: 11 Oct 2011 - 17:48 BST
We all understand the power of sports to touch a community and most sports teams spend some time giving back. While there is obviously a public relations aspect to doing so, teams inherently know that they have the power to focus attention and can use it to further the public good. For the vast majority of teams, this is done through fundraising. An endorsement by a team or players can multiply the funds recieved, especially if it involves an appearance or memorabilia. But, of course, teams and their players are not in the business of fundraising and in today's world, profesional athletics is a year round job. There are limitations to what this model can do. The Philadelphia Eagles Youth Partnership has truly rethought how a team can leverage its impact on the community. They focus on children where the need is huge and the impact the greatest. Perhaps, more importantly, they understand that they can get a child's attention in ways others can't with positive outcomes. For example, there are all sorts of obstacles (legal, social, etc) that will prevent a school from getting a child the eye test they are supposed to have, but tell a kid that he has a chance to be tested on the Eagles Eyemobile, and he becomes a proactive part of the process to ensure that he gets what he needs. Social stigmas are replaced with pride. Incentrives to read, play chess, and play constructively become substitutes for the negative influences that abound in our inner city. You don't need the players on a regular basis. You just need the excitement that comes with te affiliation of a professional franchise. Using the power of sports to influence behavior in a way that leverages the impact in a community by multiples. This is the extraordinary model of EYP. I am proud to have served as one of its Board members for the past several years.
James Korman: 10 Oct 2011 - 21:13 BST
For the past ten years I've watched Eagles Youth Partnership change the lives of thousands of children. Literally. EYP's various programs positively impact so many communities. I personally am most inspired by the Eagles Eye Mobile. Thousands of school children who would otherwise not have access to vision tests or eye examinations now are screened and provided glasses if they need them. Eagles Youth Partnership gives these children an amazing gift- the ability for many to see the blackboard in their classrooms for the first time. The impact of this gift of sight is immeasurable. I'm truly proud to be associated with Eagles Youth Partnership.
Teva Pharmaceuticals: 10 Oct 2011 - 14:16 BST
As a partner of the Philadelphia Eagles, particularly focused in the area of community service, we could not be more pleased with their devotion to helping others and to improving the lives of countless individuals in our community. Since the inception of our partnership in 2009, we have had the opportunity to make an impact in our local community and the Eagles have been eager take part in the work being done. This partnership, appropriately titled Eagles in the Community Sponsored by Teva Pharmaceuticals, has offered support in the way of money, volunteerism and charity drives. Among some of these have been: • Gaining by Giving - scholarships awarded to deserving high school seniors as well as individuals looking to further their education after completing high school. • Community Quarterback - awards recognizing individuals in our local community who have gone above and beyond in the areas of volunteerism and community service. These individuals are provided with award money donated to their non-profit organization. Additionally, as part of the partnership, Teva has invited local organizations to submit their requests for proposal, stating ways that Teva can work with them in achieving their organizational goals. In the past, we have successfully organized several exciting events with these different non-profit organizations, and have been fortunate enough to have the Eagles team there with us. It is impossible to describe the excitement seen in the eyes of some of these individuals, many of whom are suffering from poverty, hunger, disability, or disease. For a brief moment, these individuals are able to forget about their problems and enjoy an inspiring speech from a player or alumnus, a cheerful chat with one of the cheerleaders or a goofy display by SWOOP, the Eagles mascot. But their efforts don’t stop there. Each home game, Teva and the Eagles have the opportunity to offer individuals from non-profit organizations with the chance to get their name out there with a designated table in the Eagles’ Red Zone. Others are offered the chance to send individuals onto the field, with the chance to watch as the Eagles run out of the tunnel at the start of the game. These infinite demonstrations of compassion and dedication cannot be put into words. Not only have the Philadelphia Eagles as an organization been incredible, but their staff has a true passion for their jobs and a desire to make things happen. Throughout our partnership thus far, our expectations have been exceeded and we can’t think of a group more deserving for this award.
Teva Pharmaceuticals: 10 Oct 2011 - 14:15 BST
As a partner of the Philadelphia Eagles, particularly focused in the area of community service, we could not be more pleased with their devotion to helping others and to improving the lives of countless individuals in our community. Since the inception of our partnership in 2009, we have had the opportunity to make an impact in our local community and the Eagles have been eager take part in the work being done. This partnership, appropriately titled Eagles in the Community Sponsored by Teva Pharmaceuticals, has offered support in the way of money, volunteerism and charity drives. Among some of these have been: • Gaining by Giving - scholarships awarded to deserving high school seniors as well as individuals looking to further their education after completing high school. • Community Quarterback - awards recognizing individuals in our local community who have gone above and beyond in the areas of volunteerism and community service. These individuals are provided with award money donated to their non-profit organization. Additionally, as part of the partnership, Teva has invited local organizations to submit their requests for proposal, stating ways that Teva can work with them in achieving their organizational goals. In the past, we have successfully organized several exciting events with these different non-profit organizations, and have been fortunate enough to have the Eagles team there with us. It is impossible to describe the excitement seen in the eyes of some of these individuals, many of whom are suffering from poverty, hunger, disability, or disease. For a brief moment, these individuals are able to forget about their problems and enjoy an inspiring speech from a player or alumnus, a cheerful chat with one of the cheerleaders or a goofy display by SWOOP, the Eagles mascot. But their efforts don’t stop there. Each home game, Teva and the Eagles have the opportunity to offer individuals from non-profit organizations with the chance to get their name out there with a designated table in the Eagles’ Red Zone. Others are offered the chance to send individuals onto the field, with the chance to watch as the Eagles run out of the tunnel at the start of the game. These infinite demonstrations of compassion and dedication cannot be put into words. Not only have the Philadelphia Eagles as an organization been incredible, but their staff has a true passion for their jobs and a desire to make things happen. Throughout our partnership thus far, our expectations have been exceeded and we can’t think of a group more deserving for this award.
Don Smolenski: 06 Oct 2011 - 20:24 BST
From the beginning, Jeffrey Lurie, Christina Lurie, and Joe Banner established the foundation that the Philadelphia Eagles would stand as members of our community willing to make a difference. This foundation is made evident from the moment you walk into the NovaCare Complex (our practice facility) and look at the Gallery of Heroes - images of Dr. Martin Luther King, Dr. Jonas Salk, and Rosa Parks - three individuals who overcame challenges to make life better for others. They are not football heroes. They are life heroes. Our community programs are a significant part of our organization. All of our intitiatives - Eyemobile, Bookmobile, Playground Blitz, Tackling Breast Concert, Go Green, Huddle up for Autism - are focused on making our greater Philadelphia region a better place. As we go about our daily responsibilities, it is truly remarkable to stop and realize that we are fortunate enough to be a part of a special platform that can impact people's lives in a positive way. On a personal level, I work with a friend who is an oncologist to bring families who have a child battling cancer to an Eagles game each week during the season. We treat them to a special day with sidelines passes, a jersey of their favorite player, and other amenities. More importantly, we provide them with a window to just feel special and to forget about their daily challenges, and just get caught up in the fun and excitement of celebrating their favorite team with 65,000 other passionate fans. The organization, through it culture and philosophy, provides us the opportunity to share this experience with others. It is difficult to capture the meaning of that in words, but it is felt in many ways, and in this individual instance, in the huge smiles on the faces of the children and parents of these families. That's when you realize that the Philadelphia Eagles are more than just a football team.
Sheila Brown: 27 Sep 2011 - 16:57 BST
I had the privilege to work with Philadelphia Eagles Youth Partnership during my ten years at Philadelphia Futures, a non-profit organization that prepares high school students from low-income families to enter and succeed in college. In 1997, EYP created the Eagles Top Achiever Awards for public high school varsity football players who maintain a 3.0 or higher grade point average during the school year. The qualifying students are invited to a reception hosted by Eagles Youth Partnership at the NovaCare Center, and the student with the highest grade point average in each school is invited to spend half a day at Eagles' training camp. The high school football coaches have seen the positive results of this incentive by the improved academic and attendance records of their players. To be personally acknowledged by Eagles' Owner, Jeffrey Lurie, Head Coach, Andy Reid, and the team players for their academic achievement is a very powerful message. The players generously share stories with the scholar/athletes about their academic histories and their admiration for the Top Achiever's successes. Their message is very clear: stay in school, work hard in school, and education is the key to success. Most of these young men are facing daily struggles and challenges in their public schools and communities. To be honored by the Eagles' organization and the team players, and to be told they are respected and admired by them, makes a lasting impact in their lives. This academic achievement incentive is just one of the many commitments made by EYP to improve the quality of life in the city and the education of its citizens. The Eagles organization has an understanding of the community, the struggles of its citizens and a commitment to its future.
Rebecca Long 6th Grade Teacher John Wistr Elementary School CHAMPS Teacher: 23 Sep 2011 - 19:07 BST
I can not emphasize how important the Eagles Youth Partnership at our school been. Since we started working with them in 2009 our school has benefited greatly from the activities they have supplied our school with. Every student in our school has benefited from a numbers of programs they have provided. It has also given many of our students an opportunity to participate in Eagles activities, go places mostly likely they would not go and to experience proplr who care about them. One of the program I am involved with along with the EYP is a program called CHAMPS. This program is a program where the Eagles Organization has purchased a land mine detection dog. Through EYP we were asked to help sponsor the dog and participate in activities to raise monies for land mind survivors. The EYP helped us create activities to raise money such as a bake sale along with a dog biscuit sale. We actually went to the Nova Care Center and made cookies and dog biscuits with football players and EYP staff. The students enjoyed the entire day baking and then selling the items. Every student was elated that they actually got to participate in making a difference in other people lives through this EYP program. This program has also allowed myself and a student to travel aboard to the country where are dog will actually be working. Through the partnership of EYP a student and myself were chosen to go to Sri Lanka and tour the country and learn about Sri Lankaian culture. We also were taken to a land mine field and actually saw our dog Lil Swoop in action. This partnership has provided an experience for myself and my student that will last forever. This organization truly shows its involvement in children's lives on a daily basis. They provide the community with activities for many underpriviledge children. This organization truly shows support with its association of the sport team the EAGLES and its involvement in the community to make a change. As a teacher I truly believe this organization is one of the best supportive programs used in our school and I hope their contributions to the community continue.
Donna M. Smith: 23 Sep 2011 - 12:12 BST
Eagles Youth Partnership goes way beyond sports. Wister School Children and the Wister School Community have benefitted through the numbers of children serviced by the Eagles Eye Mobile. Several times a year they are here providing eye exams and free glasses to children in need. EYP has an interest in helping students to improve their reading and they send the Book Mobile to Wister throughout the year, including the summer, to read to children and send them away with tons of books. This is helping children learn to love to read and providing great books as an incentive. EYP sponsors CHAMPS, which is a program that helps children in war torn countries that have been affected by land mines, by partnering with schools and teaching children to want to help others. Students see the affects of war and then raise money to provide dogs to sniff out the mines, replace limbs for children who have been hurt by mines and a connection of children throughout the world to talk to each other through skype. EYP has given Wister a beautiful new playground with exercise equipment, play equipment, our very own Eagles Turf Field, basketball courts and so much more. Now children have a safe place to play. I could go on and on but essentially EYP has helped make Wister a place where students want to come to play, learn, be healthy and most of all happy in school. Thanks to EYP for all that you do!
Maura Strohsacker: 22 Sep 2011 - 22:24 BST
The Eagles do spectacular work in the community, but from a personal level, the experience that has most touched me is the Eagles Power Partners program. As an employee of the Eagles, I’ve been lucky enough to participate in this program as well as other EYP initiatives for a number of years. Every Monday, for 10 weeks, members of the Eagles organization get to spend one-on-one time with children from a low-income school. This time allows us to read, talk, play and listen to our reading buddy. For these children, one-on-one time with an adult is typically very limited and the undivided attention they receive means a lot from an educational and personal development stance. But at the same time, working with these children so closely has given me a sense of appreciation for the simple joys that I see them exhibit. It’s something I look forward to every week and I often feel like I benefit more from our time together than my buddy does. To work for an organization that puts the children of our city and its employees at the forefront of its priorities is truly a dream job.
Maura Strohsacker: 22 Sep 2011 - 22:23 BST
The Eagles do spectacular work in the community, but from a personal level, the experience that has most touched me is the Eagles Power Partners program. As an employee of the Eagles, I’ve been lucky enough to participate in this program as well as other EYP initiatives for a number of years. Every Monday, for 10 weeks, members of the Eagles organization get to spend one-on-one time with children from a low-income school. This time allows us to read, talk, play and listen to our reading buddy. For these children, one-on-one time with an adult is typically very limited and the undivided attention they receive means a lot from an educational and personal development stance. But at the same time, working with these children so closely has given me a sense of appreciation for the simple joys that I see them exhibit. It’s something I look forward to every week and I often feel like I benefit more from our time together than my buddy does. To work for an organization that puts the children of our city and its employees at the forefront of its priorities is truly a dream job.
Colleen McCauley, Health Policy Director, Public Citizens for Children and Youth: 22 Sep 2011 - 21:49 BST
The Eagles Youth Partnership addresses critical childrens' needs to assist Philadelphia's youngest residents achieve their full potential. I've witnessed EYP's good works first-hand having partnered with them for a number of years to improve children's visual health. They have been a driving force in increasing the number of Philadelphia children who obtain eye exams, glasses and specialty vision care services so children are in the best position to perform well in school, at home and in the community. EYP works with one child, one family, one school at a time while simultaneously pursuing change on a system level - paving the way for all children to access the care they need. EYP combines research with direct service and advocacy and policy change to achieve maximum impact - at the schools they work with on a daily basis and the campaigns they undertake to raise public awareness about the importance of vision care - including the major support they contribute towards Give Kids Sight Day, an annual day of free eye care in Philadelphia. EYP approaches their commitment to promote literacy and build playgrounds with similar passion. We are fortunate to have their leadership in Philadelphia and the surrounding region.
Kimberly McCasland: 22 Sep 2011 - 18:09 BST
As part of the Eagles Youth Partnership (EYP), the Team partnered with The Wister Elementary School and The Marshall Legacy Institute (MLI) in the CHAMPS (CHildren Against Mines Program). Through this program the Eagles and the Wister school sponsored a lifesaving Mine Detection Dog (MDD), named Little Swoop by the children, who this summer deployed to sniff mines and save lives in Sri Lanka. The Eagles brought the concept of Global Citizenship to the children of the Wister Elementary School, and joined them in the CHAMPS International program and helped the CHAMPS Wister/Eagles Team in fundraising to sponsor young landmine survivors who were in need of new prosthetic arms and legs in Iraq. Using Yahoo Messenger the Wister students connected with their sister-schools in Iraq, video-conferencing every month, meeting the survivors they would help and to talk about the landmine problem in Basra, Iraq where their Iraqi CHAMPS Team lives. Making it even more impactful, because the EYP program encouraged and partnered with the Wister School, young Nicholas T., the strongest student leader at the Wister School, traveled with his teacher Rebecca L., to Sri Lanka as part of a donor delegation with MLI. Young Nicholas, once so very shy, blossomed over the course of 1-week trip where he went to the minefields, met with Sri Lankan Secretary of Defence and other dignitarians, visited the American Embassy and dined with members of the Embassy, he went to an Elephant orphanage to see Sama, an elephant who lost her leg to a landmine and got to see Little Swoop with his new Sri Lankan handler. This trip changed his life and taught Nicholas what true Global Citizenship was. Without the Eagles none of this would have been possible!!
Alex V. Levin, MD, MHSC: 24 Aug 2011 - 02:20 BST
The Eagles Eye Mobile enables approximately 3500 children each year, who have failed a school vision screen, to get full eye care to which they would otherwise likely have no access. The concentrated multidisciplinary investment of time, evergy and resources is remarkably effective in leveraging this achievement. We have studied the efficacy of this program and found an extraordinarily high rate of successful glasses wear as compared to other published projects. In addition, the Eagles partner with other community organizations to form the Vision Coalition that among other things allows a free eye care day to be held at Wills which last year provided complete eye care for an additional 1400 kids plus 600 pairs of glasses all at no charge to the families. Clearly, this and the other Eagles programs are nothing short of exemplary. Alex V. Levin, MD, MHSc Chief, Pediatric Ophthalmology and Ocular Genetics Wills Eye Institute, Philadelphia, PA Professor, Departments of Ophthalmology and Pediatrics Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University
Fred Read: 23 Aug 2011 - 16:47 BST
I think this is a wonderful program, and my family and I fully support it.
Marciene Mattleman: 21 Aug 2011 - 22:54 BST
Citing statistics that indicate that the afternoon hours, 3-6pm, are the most dangerous for urban kids, the Eagles Youth Partnership (EYP) has demonstrated its concern for the safety of Philadelphia's young people by being the most steadfast and generous supporter of the Philadelphia Youth Chess Challenge. Chess is the centerpiece program of ASAP/After School Activities Partnerships, a non-profit organization with the goal of keeping young people in the city safe and stimulated. Currently 3700 students, grades 1-12 in the city's schools, play chess weekly and EYP support, both monetarily and as hosts of several hundred kids who participate (with some brave Eagles players)in an annual tournament, is essential. Principals tell us that those who play chess see the consequences of their actions and don't get involved in risky behaviors. Chess has been shown by research to correlate with increases in school attendance, reading and math; therefore fostering expansion of chess, helps kids stay in school and graduate. As president of ASAP and having been in this field for 25 years, I can think of no other organization that has contributed so much (e.g., the Book Mobile, the Eye Mobile, and playgrounds to name but a few)to out-of-school opportunities for the city's youth.
Joe Tierney: 18 Aug 2011 - 22:25 BST
The Eagles Youth Partnership is the most effective sports team related non profit organization in the United States and one of the highest achieving non profit organizations in the country. The Eagles Youth Partnership is an innovative organization that develops and implements programs that address pressing needs in our community.
Kera Armstrong: 18 Aug 2011 - 20:33 BST
I cannot understate how impactful and inspiring the work of Eagles Youth Partnership is in the Philadelphia-area. By leveraging the excitment of the Philadelphia Eagles, EYP touches young people in a way that not only improves their health, education, and in some instances their school playground, but transforms their lives by helping them to know that the Eagles organization and its players cares deeply about them and their future.
Kurt Knaus: 18 Aug 2011 - 18:57 BST
The Eagles deserve a great deal of credit for off-the-field performance. There are few teams that do as much for their community as this franchise, and in many case, those who do are adopting programs first started in Philadelphia by the Eagles. What the Eagles do isn't simply about pleasing fans; they recognize very clearly that they are part of a community (in many cases, they are at the center of it), and they're doing all they can to improve and enrich the lives of those who live there. The entire organization --- a management team the provides the resources to do good, the players who volunteer so much of their time, the staff that does the work that doesn't make the highlight clips --- deserves to be commended.
Sandra Rapke: 18 Aug 2011 - 18:35 BST
There is no team like the Eagles. From their dedication to preserve the environment with their green stadium for which they have won. Awards, to their philanthropic devotion to the city and people of Philadelphia, they are to be admired and honored with this prestigious award.
Carol Griffin: 18 Aug 2011 - 18:27 BST
I have had the privilege of working with the Eagles Youth Partnership for the last five years. The focus on children with needs in the Philadelphia area is something that is extremely impressive. The Eye Mobile alone has made such a difference to children who would not otherwise have glasses. That along with the Book Mobile and the playground builds is amazing. It is an honor to be a small part of the difference the Eagles Youth Partnership has made in so many young lives. Their commitment to the community by both the Eagles Youth Partnership and the Philadelphia Eagles is an inspiration for the good in our world.
Jeff Klein: 11 Aug 2011 - 16:49 BST
I've had the good fortune to work with the Eagles Youth Partnership and the Philadelphia Eagles on a number of community leadership initiatives in the Philadelphia region, and one of the most impressive parts of their wide-ranging community involvement is how deeply it permeates the organization. From the owners through the president and general manager to the coaches and the players and staff of the team, there is both passion for and commitment to community development. The Eagles also lead at a variety of levels, and their initiatives reinforce each other. Their focus on children's health and education is demonstrated through the playground build, the Eye Mobile, and the Book Mobile, and these activities have a multiplier effect on each other. Vision, literacy, and play are all important developmental factors that have even greater impact when combined. At the same time, the Eagles provide thought leadership to the league, as evidenced first through the Breast Cancer Awareness campaign and now the Go Green environmental initiative. Throughout these activities, the Eagles focus on their impact and work quite hard to collaborate, learn as an organization, and explore new ideas and opportunities. During a recent research project we conducted on the social impact of sports teams, the Eagles were repeatedly cited by the peer teams as a great model of what a team can accomplish in its community with dedicated resources and a chance to put passion into action. They have the respect of the Philadelphia community and the teams within the NFL, and they have certainly earned my respect. Jeff Klein Director, Wharton Leadership Program The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania