Philadelphia Eagles & Lincoln Financial Group to Help Recruit 100 Mentors for Big Brothers Big Sisters Through New Partnership
Partnership will incorporate recruitment campaigns and youth-centric activities, such as meet-and-greets, gameday experiences, football clinics, stadium tours, and fan engagement events
According to Big Brothers Big Sisters, the role that caring adults play in the lives of young children can help reduce their chances of being exposed to violence and trauma in their neighborhoods, schools, communities, and even their own homes. Yet, in Southeastern Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey alone, more than 750 young people are waiting to be matched up with a mentor.
To support the mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters Independence (BBBSI), the Philadelphia Eagles and Lincoln Financial Group have announced a partnership with the regional program to help recruit 100 adults. In addition to the recruitment of mentors, the partnership will include Eagles tickets, youth football clinics, tours of Lincoln Financial Field, education around Eagles business operations, player PSAs, fan engagement events, and more. The goal is to ignite potential in youth by providing them with one-to-one mentoring relationships and exposing them to new opportunities and experiences.
Those interested in becoming a mentor can apply directly at www.independencebigs.org/be-a-big.
“We are proud to team up with Lincoln Financial Group to help amplify the work of Big Brothers Big Sisters Independence,” said Julie Hirshey, Vice President of Community Relations, Philadelphia Eagles. “The presence of positive role models in the lives of children can have a profound and measurable impact on their overall development. We look forward to supporting BBBSI’s efforts to recruit more mentors so that children in our communities can reach their full potential.”
Today, nearly 11 million kids live in poverty and more than 13 million young people experience emotional, behavioral, or developmental conditions like depression. During the height of the pandemic, 20 percent of youth served by Big Brothers Big Sisters nationally lost contact with an important adult in their lives.
“This partnership is much more than a few game experiences and meeting players,” said Gregory Burton, Vice President of Marketing and Communications, BBBSI. “The Eagles are very active in the community and have been committed to reducing youth gun violence in Philadelphia – a strong focus of ours as well when we talk about uplifting entire communities. Mentorship is not a full solution to that problem, but we know it’s a partial solution with proven results. Introducing our young people to positive role models helps them realize their inherent potential and surrounds them with a positive environment. Partnering with the Eagles and Lincoln Financial Group in this way serves as a powerful message in recognizing the importance of investing in mentorship to build and strengthen communities.”
The partnership kicked off on Tuesday, September 27, when the Eagles and Lincoln Financial Group co-hosted a carnival-style experience at Lincoln Financial Field where Bigs, Littles, and children on the BBBSI waiting list enjoyed an evening of games, activities, and player meet-and-greets.
“Through the efforts of the Lincoln Financial Foundation and employees across our locations, we have been long-time supporters of Big Brothers Big Sisters,” said Elena French, senior vice president, Corporate Marketing, Communications and Brand for Lincoln Financial Group. “In partnership with the Eagles, we are proud to sponsor this new mentoring program that will create vital opportunities for so many young people. It’s another example of Lincoln’s commitment to extending our amazing partnership with the Eagles far beyond our naming rights sponsorship and into the community we call home.”
