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.
EDITOR’S NOTE: To download video footage of the kickoff celebration at Lincoln Financial Field announcing the new partnership, click here. Eagles players in attendance included Haason Reddick, Jordan Mailata, and Nakobe Dean. Video credit can be attributed to the Philadelphia Eagles.
“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 immeasurable 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.”
About Big Brothers Big Sisters Independence
Since 1915, Big Brothers Big Sisters Independence has been creating and supporting one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. Big Brothers Big Sisters’ evidence-based approach is designed to create positive youth outcomes, including educational success, avoidance of risky behaviors, higher aspirations, greater confidence, and improved relationships. Through its community-based and school-based youth mentoring programs, more than 1,600 children are served annually in Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia Counties in Pennsylvania, and Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester Counties in New Jersey. In 2015, the organization created MENTOR Independence Region to work collaboratively with external organizations to fuel the quality and quantity of mentoring relationships for Greater Philadelphia’s young people and close the mentoring gap. Learn how to get involved at www.independencebigs.org.
About Lincoln Financial Group
Lincoln Financial Group provides advice and solutions that help people take charge of their financial lives with confidence and optimism. Today, approximately 16 million customers trust our retirement, insurance, and wealth protection expertise to help address their lifestyle, savings, and income goals, and guard against long-term care expenses. Headquartered in Radnor, Pennsylvania, Lincoln Financial Group is the marketing name for Lincoln National Corporation (NYSE:LNC) and its affiliates. The company had $279 billion in end-of-period account values as of June 30, 2022. Lincoln Financial Group is a committed corporate citizen included on major sustainability indices including the Dow Jones Sustainability Index North America and FTSE4Good and ranks among Newsweek’s Most Responsible Companies. Dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion, we are included on transparency benchmarking tools such as the Corporate Equality Index, the Disability Equality Index, and the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index. Committed to providing our employees with flexible work arrangements, we were named to FlexJobs’ list of the Top 100 Companies to Watch for Remote Jobs in 2022. With a long and rich legacy of acting ethically, telling the truth, and speaking up for what is right, Lincoln was recognized as one of Ethisphere’s 2022 World’s Most Ethical Companies®. Learn more at: www.LincolnFinancial.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Sign up for email alerts at http://newsroom.lfg.com.
