Philly Leader

The Philadelphia Eagles have announced a significant contribution to combat gun violence in the city. Through their Social Justice Fund, the team is distributing $270,000 in grants to various organizations working towards solutions for this ongoing issue. This marks the fourth consecutive year that the Eagles have focused on social justice issues aimed at reducing violence in Philadelphia.

Jeffrey Lurie, Chairman and CEO of the Philadelphia Eagles, expressed gratitude towards the grant recipients and acknowledged the dedication of players and staff in identifying impactful organizations. "On behalf of the Eagles, we extend our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the 2024 social justice grant recipients for their work in reducing gun violence in Philadelphia," Lurie stated. He added that while more work remains, he is inspired by those involved in fostering safer communities.

Since its inception in 2018, the Eagles Social Justice Fund has provided over $2.6 million to organizations addressing barriers to equal opportunity in Greater Philadelphia. The recent grants focus on violence prevention, youth development and mentorship, and economic equity programming.

Dr. Joel Fein from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) emphasized the importance of addressing gun violence as a public health issue. "Firearms are the leading cause of death for youth ages 1-18 in the U.S.," Fein said. He highlighted CHOP's commitment to tackling this problem and expressed gratitude for being recognized by the Eagles Social Justice Fund.

The Eagles' efforts are part of their broader End Philly Gun Violence initiative and 'A Fan of Change' campaign, which includes partnerships with community members and other stakeholders to inspire change. Brandon Graham, a member of the Eagles Social Justice Leadership Council, shared his pride in contributing to these efforts since joining the team in 2010.

The team's social justice initiative aligns with the National Football League's Inspire Change platform, which aims to create positive change through collaboration between NFL players, clubs, and community organizations.