On Tuesday, October 20th, Jordan Mailata and the Eagles Cheerleaders traveled to West Philadelphia.
The purpose? To surprise HopePHL with a grant of $55,000 as part of the Eagles' A Fan of Change Initiative, in association with the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and their Center for Violence Prevention. The Eagles have donated more than $2.6 million to local causes since 2018 through the Eagles Social Justice Fund.
While the grant was a surprise, HopePHL knew that the Eagles were coming to help volunteer and increase the visibility of the charitable organization. After all, the 6-foot-8 Mailata is hard to miss.
"Visibility is a huge goal of ours," said Trish Downey, HopePHL's Senior Director of External Affairs. "We recently were the result of a merger of two other organizations, so there's always a little bit of backsliding and visibility as those two go away... it's just really important to keep that kind of visibility out there. That's what gives people hope. That's how we established our name."
Pronounced "hopeful," the human service organization was created through the integration of the People's Emergency Center (PEC) and Youth Service, Inc (YSI). HopePHL's mission is to "inspire Philadelphia's children, youth, families and communities to thrive by providing housing, advocacy, and trauma-responsive social services designed to promote equity, resilience, autonomy, and well-being," according to its website.
The organization also offers individual resume workshops to help Philadelphians apply for jobs. Alongside the volunteers, Mailata spent time encouraging and supporting members of the HopePHL community as they worked on their resumes.
The offensive tackle then interviewed Downey about the organization as he toured the Maynes Family Digital Learning Lab. The space also hosts after-school programs for youth in the community.
"This is awesome," Mailata told Downey. "Thank you for your service to the community and paying it forward."
After the tackle played peek-a-boo with a baby whose mother was visiting for resume assistance, Mailata and the Eagles Cheerleaders announced HopePHL as the newest recipient of the Eagles' A Fan of Change grant, presenting Downey with a ceremonial check for $55,000.
"We are constantly fighting reduced funding challenges from all over. There's a lot of competition out there right now and there's a lot of need," Downey said.
"One of the things this grant can do is help us cover some of those extra needs that we've been seeing in the community and with our residents and the people we serve and be able to either serve more people or serve the people we're serving more completely."
While part of HopePHL's funding comes from government funding and tax-related partnerships with businesses, independent donors like the Eagles play a major role. With all the work HopePHL does for the community in West Philadelphia, it's clear that they are A Fan of Change. HopePHL is hopeful that it will be able to make more of an impact with the grant.
"Everyone who had services with us felt like there had been some resolution, said it gave them hope," Downey said. "It's important to have hopeful news out there as well as just to support."
- Written by Caroline Connor
During the NFL season, the Eagles host events in the community featuring players, Eagles Cheerleaders, SWOOP, and more. Check out photos of Eagles in the Community so far this season!
DB Kenny Moore II creating bracelets with kids from the Boys & Girls Club of Camden County and Dream Drive at the Eagles' Fall Fest in collaboration with Silvi Materials - October 27, 2026
QB Cole Payton with a "Go Birds" pumpkin at Lincoln Financial Field - October 27, 2026
In collaboration with Silvi Materials, SWOOP and the Eagles Cheerleaders welcoming the Boys & Girls Club of Camden County and Dream Drive to the Eagles' Fall Fest at Lincoln Financial Field. Activities included Carnival games, bungee jump, corn maze, face painting, pumpkin decorating and candy bag decorating, and more - October 27, 2026
T Markel Bell and T Fred Johnson poising with guests from the Boys & Girls Club of Camden County and Dream Drive - October 27, 2026
C/G Jake Majors designing a tote bag with a child from the Boys & Girls Club of Camden County - October 27, 2026
QB Cole Payton decorating pumpkins with the Boys & Girls Club of Camden County and Dream Drive at Lincoln Financial Field - October 27, 2026
WR Darius Cooper with Delaware high school girls flag football players at a Positive Coaching Alliance workshop at Lincoln Financial Field - October 6, 2026
SWOOP takes the podium at a Positive Coaching Alliance workshop at Lincoln Financial Field - October 6, 2026
WR Darius Cooper, SWOOP, Eagles legend Fred Barnett, and Eagles Cheerleaders at a Positive Coaching Alliance workshop at Lincoln Financial Field - October 6, 2026
SWOOP sitting with Delaware high school girls flag football players - October 6, 2026
WR Darius Cooper doing a workshop exercise with a Delaware high school girls flag football player at Lincoln Financial Field - October 6, 2026
WR Darius Cooper, SWOOP, and Eagles Cheerleaders attending AED/CPR training from the American Heart Association at Olney High School - September 29, 2026.
WR Darius Cooper attending AED/CPR training from the American Heart Association at Olney High School - September 29, 2026.
SWOOP at Olney High School - September 29, 2026.
WR Darius Cooper particpating in AED/CPR training from the American Heart Association at Olney High School - September 29, 2026.
WR Darius Cooper attending AED/CPR training from the American Heart Association at Olney High School - September 29, 2026.
WR Donyavion Wicks, LS Rocco Underwood, SWOOP, Dave Spadaro, and Eagles Cheerleaders hosting a Mobile JR Pro presented by ACME & Kellogg's at Stephen Decatur - September 22, 2026.
LS Rocco Underwood overseeing a drill for Mobile JR Pro presented by ACME & Kellogg's at Stephen Decatur - September 22, 2026.
RB Will Shipley celebrating with Mobile JR Pro participants at Stephen Decatur - September 22, 2026.
WR Dontavion Wicks high-fiving a particpant at Stephen Decatur - September 22, 2026.
RB Will Shipley with Special Olympics athletes during a unified flag football practice at Jefferson Health Training Complex - September 15, 2026.
WR Darius Cooper, SWOOP, and Eagles Cheerleaders posing with Special Olympics athletes - September 15, 2026.
SWOOP getting an autograph by a Special Olympics flag football player - September 15, 2026.
RB Will Shipley going over unified flag football plays with Special Olympics athletes - September 15, 2026.
RB Will Shipley posing with Special Olympics athletes after unified flag football practice at the Jefferson Health Training Complex - September 15, 2026.
