Three of the jerseys contain celebrity signatures from Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Uma Thurman, Luke Wilson, Rainn Wilson, Scarlett Johansson, tommy Lee and “Extra’s” Mark McGrath — all of which were gathered by the nationally syndicated entertainment news magazine show “Extra” throughout several days of superstar interviews.
Additionally, Bon Jovi personally gathered signatures which also appear on some of the jerseys. These include Michael Douglas, Diana Ross, Jessica Alba, Shannon Elizabeth, Sheryl Crow, Kanye West, Eva Longoria, Anna Nicole Smith, Kelly Osbourne, Jenny McCarthy, Slash, Clay Aiken and Kix Brooks, among others.
“Extra” recently took Jon Bon Jovi’s philanthropic endeavors to heart. The rock star, who has a track record of charitable involvement, asked the show’s on-air personalities to autograph a handful of Philadelphia Soul Arena Football jerseys (Mr. Bon Jovi is the co-owner of the team) and was thrilled when they took it one step further. By bringing the jerseys with them as they interviewed some of the world’s biggest stars, they collected autographs along the way. When “Extra’s” New York correspondent, Tanika Ray, interviewed Jon Bon Jovi at one of the band’s three sold-out homecoming shows at Giants Stadium which closed out the band’s “Have A Nice Day” World Tour, she surprised the star with the good deed that her show had done. The three jerseys, along with a fourth autographed jersey that the band brought to the 2004 American Music Awards, will now be auctioned on eBay in order to raise money for Project H.O.M.E. in Philadelphia.
“My mission with the Philadelphia Soul has been to use the team as a means to help local charities and causes in the community,” says Jon Bon Jovi. ” ‘Extra’ took up the challenge. My sincere gratitude to Extra and to all the celebrities who were generous with their time and added their signatures to help me raise money for the incredible work that Project H.O.M.E. does.”
Mr. Bon Jovi’s Philadelphia Soul franchise launched in 2004 with a commitment to become more than a sports franchise. Their involvement with local charities within the Philadelphia community remains strong. Each season the Soul identify local causes with whom they partner. The Soul donate money and time to the worthy charities and also help raise the awareness of the cause among their fans and the local Philadelphia market.
Mr. Bon Jovi’s Philadelphia Soul franchise launched in 2004 with a commitment to become more than a sports franchise. Their involvement with local charities within the Philadelphia community remains strong. Each season the Soul identify local causes with whom they partner. The Soul donate money and time to the worthy charities and also help raise the awareness of the cause among their fans and the local Philadelphia market.
This year, Jon Bon Jovi and the Philadelphia Soul have partnered with Project H.O.M.E. – a non-profit founded by Sister Mary Scullion and Joan Dawson McConnon in 1989. The organization provides a full range of services for chronically homeless people with mental illness and/or substance abuse disorders, including street outreach, safe havens, permanent supportive housing and a range of services to supplement housing. This continuum is an important part of Project H.O.M.E.’s success: each person is recognized as an individual with unique needs. Services at each facility are different; some residents are not ready to accept regimented drug or alcohol treatment, while others may be able to live almost independently. Largely responsible for drastically reducing the issues of homelessness in the city of Philadelphia, Project H.O.M.E. is recognized nationally as a model program that other organizations addressing the issue of homelessness strive to emulate in helping solve the problems they face in their own cities.
DETAILS on the FOUR JERSEYS auctioned on EBAY:
MY SUPER EX-GIRLFRIEND AUTOGRAPHED PHILADELPHIA SOUL JERSEY
signed by actors UMA THURMAN, LUKE WILSON and RAINN WILSON during press junket for the motion picture MY SUPER EX GIRLFRIEND
SCARLETT JOHANNSON AUTOGRAPHED PHILADELPHIA SOUL JERSEY
signed by actress SCARLETT JOHANNSON during promotion of her film SCOOP
SUPER CELEBRITY SIGNED JERSEY
signed by numerous celebrities over the course of a year, beginning at Bon Jovi’s March 2005 concert at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, NV and culminating with movie junkets in the summer of 2006.
signatures include: MICHAEL DOUGLAS, KENNY G, JESSICA ALBA, ROB ZOMBIE, SHANNON ELIZABETH, JOEY FATONE, JESSE BRADFORD & PRISCILLA VALLES, members of LINKIN PARK, MARK McGRATH, TOMMY LEE, JOHNNY DEPP, ORLANDO BLOOM
AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS (2003) AUTOGRAPHED PHILADELPHIA SOUL JERSEY
– signed at the 2004 American Music Awards ceremonies in Los Angeles in November 2004
– signatures include: JON BON JOVI, JO-JO, SHERYL CROW, KANYE WEST, DIANA ROSS, EVA LONGORIA, ANNA-NICOLE SMITH, UNCLE KRACKER, KENNY G., FANTASIA, MICHAEL McDONALD, KELLY OSBOURNE, CHINGY, KATHY GRIFFIN, JENNY McCARTHY, SLASH, CLAY AIKEN, PHARELL WILLIAMS, KIX BROOKS.
HAVE A NICE DAY: BON JOVI TOUR BENEFITS THE PHILADELPHIA SOUL CHARITY EFFORTS
Additionally, BON JOVI’s “HAVE A NICE DAY” WORLD TOUR travelled the globe and at each show, fans were able to purchase replicaPHILADELPHIA SOUL jerseys autographed by JON BON JOVI, RICHIE SAMBORA, TICO TORRES and DAVID BRYAN (as shown to the right.) Monies raised and tallied at the end of the tour supported PHILADELPHIA SOUL CHARITABLE FOUNDATION’s launch.
