Philly Leader

With the holiday season underway, A.J. Brown provided an unexpected treat for eight children from the Boys and Girls Club of New Jersey. The A.J. Brown Foundation organized a shopping spree at a sporting goods store on Monday, where Brown himself surprised the children by helping them choose their items and covering all expenses.

Brown explained, "My foundation is basically about mentorship, giving back to the community in any way possible, and supporting the kids. We've adopted over 1,100 kids. So, I'm super excited about that, and just trying to do anything in my power just to give back to the community."

The event began with each child receiving sweatshirts from the foundation and meeting store employees before discovering that their favorite football player was present.

Prior to revealing his presence, many of the children had already named A.J. Brown as their favorite player. Upon meeting him, they were greeted with his characteristic smile.

Before assisting with their shopping choices, Brown shared advice on education and health—two pillars of his foundation alongside mentorship and community engagement. He stated, "Education is very important... You cannot do all the things you love – dancing, playing sports – unless you do really well in the classroom."

He emphasized wellness by saying, "I play a physical game... Of course, you guys want to grow big and get strong and do what you love."

During the spree, Brown helped each child select items ranging from shoes and jackets to Eagles jerseys. His joy was evident when one boy chose an A.J. Brown jersey which he signed.

Reflecting on the day’s events, Brown remarked: "It means everything... It's all about giving back... The smiles it brings are priceless."

As they finished shopping, gift bags from the A.J. Brown Foundation were distributed along with parting words from Brown: "Keep doing what you're doing in school... Continue to just take it one day at a time."