Dave Caldwell Senior Personnel Director/advisor To The General Manager | Philadelphia Eagles Website
Dave Caldwell Senior Personnel Director/advisor To The General Manager | Philadelphia Eagles Website
Earlier in December, the Philadelphia Eagles awarded $270,000 in grants to local organizations through their social justice fund. This initiative is part of ongoing efforts to address gun violence in the city. According to the City Controller’s Office, gun violence homicides in Philadelphia have decreased by 40% from 2023, following a 23% reduction from 2022 to 2023. Despite these improvements, gun violence remains a significant concern, particularly affecting underserved communities of color.
The Eagles' End Philly Gun Violence initiative aims to provide resources and support for young people affected by violence. Three organizations working towards this goal shared their missions with PhiladelphiaEagles.com.
The Center for Violence Prevention (CVP) at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) runs programs designed to help children avoid and cope with violence throughout their lives. "We have a robust gun safety program which encourages our clinical staff to have non-judgmental conversations with families about guns," said Lindsey Mitros, Associate Director of Communications for the Center for Injury Research and Prevention and Center for Violence Prevention at CHOP. The CVP collaborates with the community and emphasizes prevention as a public health issue.
Rock to the Future was founded in 2010 by Jessica Craft and focuses on youth development through free music programs. "We focus on areas that are under-resourced," Craft explained. The organization serves over 1,100 children annually and supports graduates pursuing higher education or trade schools.
Shoot Basketballs NOT People is led by Garry Mills and uses basketball as a tool for community transformation and violence prevention. Since its inception in 2010, it has reached more than 2,000 children in Northwest Philadelphia. Mills started SBNP after experiencing personal losses due to gun violence. "How can I save the next child?" he asked rhetorically while describing his motivation behind founding SBNP.
These organizations represent varied approaches but share a common goal: reducing gun violence through community engagement and support.
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