In addition to providing volunteers, Eagles Youth Partnership contributed $75,000 toward the project.

"This is an opportunity for our entire organization to join forces with youngsters and adults alike right here in Philadelphia and work as a team to make an immediate difference in our community," said Eagles' Chairman/CEO and Eagles Youth Partnership Chairman Jeffrey Lurie. "It's a day when all of us roll up our sleeves, get dirty, work and paint.

DE Jevon Kearse

"It means so much to give the kids the attention they deserve. When you give them attention, they start to feel they're deserving of the attention. At the same time you're building their self-confidence levels and, in some cases, you're really helping to build a sense of community for the very first time." Every student in the school spent time with Eagles players either through working side by side with a player in one of the outdoor projects or through player visits to individual classrooms.

Coupled with tens of thousands of dollars in goods and services to be provided by additional partners, the efforts of Eagles Youth Partnership have enabled the project to grow dramatically in size and scope. Now, what was originally planned as a playground has turned into a life-changing, educational experience for these children and a powerful collaboration of partners.

Partners in the Gideon Eagles Nest Playground include:

OL Shawn Andrews with youngster

The Edward Gideon School was selected for the project based upon the following criteria: the overall need of the school and neighborhood, the proximity of other playgrounds, having a space large enough for projects that will engage the entire Eagles organization in meaningful community service for an entire day, and a school staff that is energetic and responsive.

In describing the day, Sarah Martinez-Helfman, Eagles Youth Partnership's Executive Director, said, "Eagles Youth Partnership is teaming up with kids to create more than a playground; we're creating hope."

Built in neighborhoods inhabited by drugs and violence, and where children have little hope and few resources, Eagles Youth Partnership has been told year after year that the playgrounds they build will not last. However, the opposite has been true. In part due to the fact that careful consideration goes into the planning phase in order to ensure long-term sustainability.

"Each of the playgrounds we have built over the years are thriving," said Christina Weiss Lurie, President of Eagles Youth Partnership. "While we come in with energy and resources, the sustainability is a tribute to the people living in these hard-hit neighborhoods, facing incredible odds with unwavering dedication."

In 2001, the City of Philadelphia honored the block that houses the Franklinville Eagles Playground (built in 1999) as one of the three most beautiful streets in Philadelphia, two full years after the playground was built. In addition, the Eagles Butterfly House & Education Center won an economic development award in 2001 from Camden County (NJ).

To aid in creating that stability, Eagles Youth Partnership maintains ongoing relationships with the sites at which they build playgrounds. From providing funding to staff an educator at the Eagles Butterfly House & Education Center, to bringing the Eagles Book Mobile program to community events at Franklinville Eagles Playground and the Village Eagles Playground, to providing additional grants, Eagles Youth Partnership continues to contribute to each of its playground sites.