Category Archives: Editorial

February 1 2007

JON BON JOVI, KENNETH COLE RAISE MONIES FOR SOUL CHARITABLE FOUNDATION

The event featured a Live Auction and Acoustic Performance by JON BON JOVI. The evening’s emcee was comedian LEWIS BLACK. Bon Jovi bandmade RICHIE SAMBORAjoined JON BON JOVI, along with a small back up band, for acoustic renditions of Bon Jovi hits “Who Says You Can’t Go Home” and “Livin’ On A Prayer,” as well as the Leonard Cohen classic “Hallelujah.” As a special treat to the guests who donated to the deserving cause, partygoers were treated to the live debuts of never-before-heard songs-in-progress, “(You Wanna) Make A Memory” and “Holdin’ On.”

Other celebrities who turned out to lend their support inlcluded Petra Nemcova, David Schwimmer, Russell Simmons, Howard Stern and Beth Ostrosky. Extensive media coverage (entertainment TV crews, as well as print outlets) helped raise awareness of the cause and encourage viewers, readers, fans and the public to lend their hand and wallet towards making a difference.

100% of the proceeds benefitted HELP USA, HABITAT FOR HUMANITY and the PHILADELPHIA SOUL CHARITABLE FOUNDATION. The special event brought in pledges in excess of $1 Million to help fight poverty and homelessness.

Kenneth Cole & Jon Bon Jovi receive check for funds raised

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December 4 2006

DELTA, JON BON JOVI & HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

Jon Bon Jovi speaks at Delta / Habitat "Force For Good" Unveiling

Delta will launch the campaign with Habitat for Humanity International with its first international build in Katlehong, South Africa, Dec. 6-8.

Today, Habitat for Humanity Ambassador Bon Jovi joined Delta executives, thousands of Delta employees and Habitat representatives in the airline’s hometown of Atlanta to unveil a Delta Boeing 767-300 aircraft that features a Habitat for Humanity paint schematic and “Delta’s Force for Global Good” decaling. The aircraft symbolically represents Delta’s philanthropic pledge and partnership with Habitat, as it flies throughout Delta’s worldwide network including Dakar, Senegal and Johannesburg, South Africa.

“Delta’s Force for Global Good” leverages the combined assets of Delta’s vast global network of more than 45,000 employees who volunteer their time and Delta’s charitable foundation to support the global communities where Delta customers and employees live and work. The employees chosen for the build in Katlehong, just outside of Johannesburg, were selected from an employee group that has volunteered more than 150 hours annually to community service. The build is the first of several Habitat projects that Delta will fulfill, all under the “Delta Force for Global Good” umbrella, in other countries and in which Delta employees and customers will have the opportunity to participate.

“Today marks a new page in Delta’s history book as we announce this exciting new philanthropic commitment and our first partner in this effort, Habitat for Humanity International,” said Delta’s Chief Executive Officer Jerry Grinstein.” Delta’s Force for Global Good leverages the deep volunteerism of Delta’s employees – the backbone of our philanthropic efforts for 77 years — for the benefit of global humanitarian efforts. We’re honored that globally-recognized performer and humanitarian Jon Bon Jovi joined us for the symbolic unveiling and we can’t wait to begin building our first global Habitat homes in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Dec. 6.”

Delta tapped Bon Jovi to help them unveil “Delta’s Force for Global Good” and its new relationship with Habitat, given his deep support of and official connection with the organization – Bon Jovi was recently named the first Founding Ambassador of the Habitat for Humanity Ambassador program. He launched his support for Habitat for Humanity in 2005 when he provided the funds to build six homes in Philadelphia and worked to build the homes with the homeowner families and members of his Philadelphia Soul Arena Football Team.

Habitat Volunteers Break Ground in South Africa

”In my role as a Habitat for Humanity Ambassador, I’m pleased to help Delta Air Lines announce their new philanthropic program and commitment to Habitat,” said Bon Jovi. ”I can speak from experience that Delta’s employees who are committing their time to Habitat will feel proud and moved by their dedicated efforts. Their involvement – and the Habitat messages that you can’t miss, emblazoned on this Delta aircraft – will encourage others to become involved and share in the rebuilding of their own communities.”

“Habitat for Humanity is honored to be chosen as the first partner in ‘Delta’s Force for Global Good’ program,” said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. “Delta is demonstrating great corporate citizenship by helping to build Habitat homes and raise awareness about the critical need for simple, decent housing in countries around the world.”

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October 10 2006

JON BON JOVI and KENNETH COLE TEAM UP FOR CHARITY

Born out of both men’s personal and professional philanthropic projects, the R.S.V.P. TO HELP partnership saw KENNETH COLE designing a limited edition line of outerwear based upon pieces of Jon Bon Jovi’s own stagewear: Two jackets(one lambskin zipper up and one cashmere military button up, available in both mens and womens styles) were created and sold in Kenneth Cole stores, via the Kenneth Cole website and in Saks Fifth Avenue stores. Each and every jacket was autographed on the inside lining by Jon Bon Jovi.

The proceeds went to HELP USA, www.helpusa.org, a national non-profit organization with a mission to empower the homeless and others in need to become and remain self-reliant, through the development of quality housing, on-site support services, education and job training programs. With the success of the limited edition leather items, Bon Jovi and Cole created a lower price-point simple black t-shirt, with the phrase “GIVE A SHIRT” emblazoned on the front, in order to add more fundraising power to the project by making the items accessible to more people.

The media launch of the project began when Jon Bon Jovi and Kenneth Cole walked the red carpet together at 2006 FASHION ROCKS and announced the R.S.V.P. TO HELP campaign. From that point, print ads, emails and in-store promotional posters and images featured Jon Bon Jovi donning the black cashmere military jacket. Appearances on The Today Show, Extra and Access Hollywood, among other media outlets, further promoted the rock star and the fashion designer’s collaboration to help the homeless.

JON BON JOVI featured in Print Ad for R.S.V.P. by KENNETH COLE

The next phase of the R.S.V.P. TO HELP campaign was the launch of R.S.V.P. by KENNETH COLE cologne. Jon Bon Jovi would be the face of the new signature fragrance. Print advertising and marketing materials featured Jon Bon Jovi and a television commercial was commissioned, also featuring Jon Bon Jovi. The cologne was released in November 2006, in time for the holiday season, in Kenneth Cole flagship stores and Saks Fifth Avenue stores. In January 2007, the scent was available at retailers nationwide. All proceeds went to charity; this time, however, in addition to monies going to H.E.L.P. USA, monies from the R.S.V.P. cologne also went to the PHILADELPHIA SOUL CHARITABLE FOUNDATION.

R.S.V.P. is still available at retail outlets nationwide, and now internationally. We encourage you to purchase the scent and help Jon and the Philadelphia Soul Foundation continue to help others.

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October 8 2006

JON BON JOVI – EXTRA – SIGNED SOUL JERSEYS ON EBAY

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.

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.

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October 7 2006

SPEECH DELIVERED BY JON BON JOVI – OCTOBER 5, 2006

This is the text written by Jon Bon Jovi off of which he read his remarks. Verbatim transcript may reflect minor differences from final delivered comments.

Thank you, Sister Mary Scullion, Joan Dawson McConnon, Jonathan Reckford, Jill Lajdziak and, of course, President Clinton.

Thank you all for coming. First I’d like to share with you who we are and why we are all here.

In 2003 I became the co-owner of the Arena Football League’s PHILADELPHIA SOUL (along with my partner, Craig Spencer.) From the inception of our franchise, the mission was to use the team as a way to give back to the community. Each season our directive to the staff has been to find the LOCAL CAUSES, the Father Flanagan’s, if you will… help us find the ones who fell through the cracks. Nothing was too big and no one was too small. Our desire was simply to help those in need.

PLEASE UNDERSTAND, our team is not making money – and any money we do make, we give away. But I’m very proud to say that as we head into our fourth season, we have been able to give away more than 2 MILLION DOLLARS to local causes in the name of BON JOVI and THE PHILADELPHIA SOUL.

We may have started small but we thought big. Whether it was a playground for the Northern Home for Children, beds for Covenant House, or starting a helpline for kids… the Soul were always there.

Today we’re proud to announce the creation of the Philadelphia Soul Foundation – the natural extension of the team’s philanthropic work.

In the last year and a half, the Soul and I — along with the band — have become very involved with Habitat for Humanity. Between Houma, Louisiana and here in Philadelphia, we will have given 34 families a place they could call home.

I spend a lot of time here in Philadelphia. One night while I was looking out of my hotel window I saw a homeless man sleeping in front of City Hall.
I wanted to help him.
I wanted to fix that.
I realize the homeless problem is immense. And I realize that no one has all the answers. I needed help. That’s how I came to meet SISTER MARY SCULLION and PROJECT H.O.M.E.

It was Sister Mary who educated me about the need to provide not only shelter to the homeless but education and job training – it was all about breaking the cycle. Sister Mary opened my eyes and taught me to look at all the problems that combine together to form the bigger issue that is homelessness.

For example – job training — you can’t even get a job working as a cashier at the local superstore without basic computer skills. Agencies like Project H.O.M.E. provide that job training that can take someone from a minimum wage job to just a $10.00 per hour job.

And if you don’t think that sounds like much of a difference – think again. $5.00 per hour… $40.00 per day… $200.00 per week.

That’s the difference in the quality and quantity of food you are able to feed your children.

That’s the difference in being able to pay the electric bill or the phone bill because heat, electricity and phone service are not luxuries – they are basic necessities.

Habitat for Humanity’s work speaks for itself – you’ve seen it. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina and the Tsunami, for example, Habitat was there – rebuilding lives. And that’s just in response to disaster. In Habitat’s 30 year history, they’ve built more than 200,000 homes… and dreams, by offering families a chance to be first-time homeowners.

The program’s successes are undeniable. But if you’re eligible for a Habitat home, you’re already at the top of the statistical heap. What about those who can’t think about making rent or even having a warm place to sleep at night?

That is where Project H.O.M.E. shines. By offering job training, education and social services, Project H.O.M.E. empowers individuals to break the cycle of homelessness. They can put them on the path to home ownership.

How do we bridge the purpose of Habitat with the PROMISE of Project H.O.M.E. ?

Well, this is why we’re here. What you see behind us is a new beginning.

For the first time, Habitat For Humanity has partnered with a local provider.
Together with support from our partners at SATURN, we are reconstructing these 15 row homes.

This will be the new model.

Here we have local service providers, Habitat for Humanity, and corporate America all working together to rebuild communities.

It is my sincere desire to see these people BECOME their community. They become the homeowners and business owners and investors in their own future, reshaping their own neighborhood. We can’t let neighborhood become a thing of the past.

The Arena Football League is about ACCESSIBILITY and AFFORDABILITY
and is PLAYED FOR AND BY PEOPLE WHO HAVE A DREAM.
That is what the SOUL is about.
That’s what this partnership is about.
We want to invite you to join our team.

The greatest social good is assisting individuals to take responsibility for themselves.
Together we can make a difference.
One soul at a time.

Thank you…