From choosing a unifying name for the team (as co-owner Jon Bon Jovi explained, “good players play with their head; great players play with their hearts but extraordinary players play with soul”) to initiating the Soul Moving Experience (an annual effort that encourages private companies and individuals to sponsor under-privileged Philadelphia youth to attend Soul games); from encouraging the athletes on the roster 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) to treating each Soul home game as a opportunity for fans to help the community by announcing the ‘Drive Schedule’ when they announce the season’s game schedule (Soul fans have donated teddy bears to abused children, school supplies to Katrina-ravaged towns and backpacks to needy children in Philadelphia) — everything the Soul does includes a charitable component. It is the cornerstone of the team’s identity.
The natural next step was to create THE PHILADELPHIA SOUL CHARITABLE FOUNDATION, a non-profit organization dedicated to making a positive difference and changing lives One SOUL At A Time.
The Official Mission Statement of the PHILADELPHIA SOUL CHARITABLE FOUNDATION reads as follows:
“Through the creation of programs and partnerships targeted at breaking the cycle of poverty and homelessness, the Philadelphia Soul Charitable Foundation exists to combat issues that force families and individuals into economic despair.”
The foundation was formally introduced on October 5, 2006 at a Press Event in Philadelphia. Since that time, although this site has not been up and running, the foundation most certainly has! We’ve been hard at work. If you read through the many archived news articles posted at this site, you’ll learn much more about projects in which the Philadelphia Soul Charitable Foundation has been participating, which include the construction of affordable housing, not just in Philadelphia but in locations as wide-ranging as Brooklyn, Colorado and South Africa.
But this is just the beginning. Our vision for the Philadelphia Soul Charitable Foundation is to expand its scope to reach beyond the City of Brotherly Love and help battle the cycle of poverty and homelessness wherever we can and help those who need it most.
And we believe you can be a part of this effort. We will let you know how YOU can help the Soul Foundation. Whether it’s monetary donations, charitable drives, sponsorships & partnerships or volunteer opportunities, information on how you can be a part of this Philadelphia Soul Charitable Foundation’s good works will be posted on this website.
Our team grows stronger when you join the lineup.
Together, we CAN make a difference. One SOUL At A Time.
