Look To The Stars News: Philadelphia Soul Charitable Foundation

Jon Bon Jovi Bares His Soul

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 11:30:00 -0000

Jon Bon Jovi has revealed how he was inspired to establish the Philadelphia Soul Charitable Foundation, the charity he set up in 2006 to combat issues that force families and individuals into economic despair.

“I picked the idea of affordable housing and breaking the chains of poverty because one night I was viewing out of a hotel window in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – the birthplace of our nation, the place where our forefathers wrote the Declaration of Independence,” said the 46-year-old singer. “As I saw a man sleeping on the steps of the City Hall in the middle of the winter I thought this isn’t what they were thinking at the time. It doesn’t matter if you’re young or you’re old, you’re rich or you’re poor, you’re white, you’re black, Republican or Democrat – homelessness can affect anyone at any given time.”

Bon Jovi named the Foundation after the arena football team he co-owns – the Philadelphia Soul – and uses it to fund and create of programs and partnerships to support innovative community efforts to break the cycle of poverty and homelessness. Their goal is to recognize and maximize the human potential of those affected by poverty and homelessness, and provide affordable housing, social services, and job training programs. Ever since he bought the team, Bon Jovi’s intention was to ensure that the Soul was different from other sports franchises – everything the Soul does includes a charitable component, it is the cornerstone of the team’s identity. All members of the team are encouraged to be positive role models for children (players, dance team members and the team mascot regularly make public appearances at non-profit and charity events, schools and hospitals), and even the fans do their part to make a difference – from donating teddy bears to abused children, to giving school supplies to Katrina-ravaged towns, and even supplying backpacks to needy children in Philadelphia.

To find out more about the Foundation, visit their website.

Bon Jovi Gives Hope To Those Living On A Prayer

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 14:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Rocker Jon Bon Jovi was in Detroit’s East Side on Monday to announce the building of five new homes as part of a partnership between his Philadelphia Soul Charitable Foundation, Habitat For Humanity, and local retailers Saturn.

The homes – which are only a few of the 100 planned by Habitat for Humanity in the next few years – will be built by November, and Bon Jovi is extremely excited about the prospect of helping people in the area.

“We really want to revitalize the neighborhood…so that the kids can play in these streets,” he said. “That’s what America is all about.”

The 46-year-old singer began working with Habitat for Humanity in 2005 and has made it his mission to draw attention to the need for affordable housing nationwide through his Soul Foundation – named after the arena football team he co-owns, the Philadelphia Soul.

“The Soul Foundation has really differentiated itself from other sports teams both in Philadelphia and around the nation by making community a huge part of its mission statement,” he said.

Bon Jovi was in Detroit to play a concert at the Palace of Auburn Hills on Monday night as part of the band’s “Lost Highway” tour.

“I wanted to give something back to you,” the singer told the crowd that gathered at the site of the new homes just before he left. “But I have to go to my day job now.”

Bon Jovi Works to Provide Affordable Housing in Philadelphia

Thu, 26 Oct 2006 02:16:11 -0000

Written by Robert Powers

Earlier this month rocker Jon Bon Jovi, standing alongside former President Bill Clinton, announced the proposed renovation and rebuilding of fifteen abandoned row houses in North Central Philadelphia.

The newly refurbished homes are to be part of the charitable initiative “Phase V Homeownership Project”, which will work to provide affordable and environmentally-friendly quality housing to first-time homeowners that might otherwise go homeless.

The project represents the flagship initiative of the newly formed Philadelphia Soul Charitable Foundation and involves the efforts of Saturn, Habitat For Humanity, and Project HOME as cooperating partners.

The Philadelphia Soul Charitable Foundation will finance the project with Saturn who is also ensuring that the homes are eco-friendly, Habitat for Humanity will oversee construction of the homes, and Project HOME will assist prospective homeowners with the training of skills required of homeownership.

Bon Jovi, who was also recently made Habitat for Humanity’s first ever Habitat Ambassador, has himself pledged $450,000 to the project.

“It is my sincere and heartfelt desire not to let neighborhoods deteriorate any further,” he said during a press conference to mark the start of the project.

In May of this year Bon Jovi was given the HELP Heroes Award by HELP USA, a charitable organization that works to assist the country’s homeless, during a tribute dinner that also honored director Martin Scorsese. More recently, he was presented with the City of Brotherly Love Award by Philadelphia mayor John F. Street.

“It gives me great joy,” Bon Jovi has said of doing work for charity, “There’s just too many haves and have-nots in the country.”

Look To The Stars News: Philadelphia Soul Charitable Foundation

Jon Bon Jovi Bares His Soul

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