Following an initial $190,000 in grants and a $20,000 donation to MenzFit earlier in the week, the Philadelphia Eagles announced that the Eagles Social Justice Fund of the Philadelphia Foundation has distributed an additional set of grants totaling $275,000 to the following Philadelphia-area non-profit organizations:

Established in 2018, the Eagles Social Justice Fund was formed to provide grants to organizations that work to reduce barriers to equal opportunity, with a specific focus on education, community and police relations, improving the criminal justice system, and other initiatives targeting poverty, racial equality, and workforce development in the Greater Philadelphia area.

"My desire has always been to help create a positive environment for our players to pursue the causes and charities they value," said Jeffrey Lurie, Philadelphia Eagles Chairman and CEO. "The Eagles Social Justice Fund was established to provide support and critical resources for organizations addressing key social issues in our communities. We are inspired by their transformational work and hope that this funding will help enhance and strengthen their impact on those who need it most."

The Eagles Social Justice Leadership Council, which is comprised of a small collection of players and club executives, works to identify potential grant recipients and secure contributions to the Eagles Social Justice Fund. The Fund is built through one-to-one matching donations from players and the club. Players on the council include Nelson Agholor, Derek Barnett, Michael Bennett, Malcolm Jenkins, Chris Long and Rodney McLeod.

"As professional athletes, we are fortunate to have a platform like this that enables us to partner with so many organizations committed to life-changing work," said Rodney McLeod, Philadelphia Eagles safety and member of the Eagles Social Justice Leadership Council. "They are bridging the gaps in our homes and schools, providing jobs for those in need, and tackling important issues within the criminal justice system. On behalf of the players' council and the Eagles, I would like to congratulate the grant recipients and thank them for their commitment to the City of Philadelphia."

Once again, the Eagles Social Justice Leadership Council chose to support a continuum of services across the spectrum of social justice issues. This spectrum begins with prevention of youth entering the criminal justice system through education and mentorship, continues with reform to the criminal justice system itself, and concludes with re-entry services aimed at helping formerly incarcerated individuals stay out of the system and re-establish themselves as productive members of the community.

Grants were previously given to Philadelphia Community Bail Fund ($50,000), Philadelphia Opportunities Industrialization Center ($50,000), Police Athletic League of Philadelphia ($50,000), United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey ($40,000) to support reading programs in Camden, NJ, and MenzFit ($20,000).

Big Brothers Big Sisters

Big Brothers Big Sisters Independence Region is a donor-supported organization that enriches, encourages and empowers children to reach their highest potential through safe, one-to-one mentoring relationships. For more than 100 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters Independence Region has been positively impacting children and communities in Philadelphia, Montgomery, Chester, Delaware, Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester counties in PA and NJ. Nearly 3,700 children annually are more successful socially and academically because of the work of Big Brothers Big Sisters Independence Region.

For more information, visit www.independencebigs.org

Camden Alternative Education Programs

Alternative educational programs as defined by the Camden City Public School District, offer non-traditional, yet effective learning environments that provide flexible educational objectives closely related to the learning style of and related to the individual needs of the students. The programs are designed specifically to give those students who have not flourished in the traditional educational setting an opportunity to learn.

For more information, visit http://camdencity.ss12.sharpschool.com/

Center for Returning Citizens

The Center for Returning Citizens (TCRC) assists returning citizens in the transition from incarceration to society. TCRC helps individuals, families, and communities deal with the adverse impacts of incarceration via direct services, advocacy, lobbying for change and organizing in the community.

For more information, visit www.tcrcphilly.org

Frontline Dads

The mission of Frontline Dads is to facilitate the intellectual, emotional, spiritual, and cultural development of African-American men and "at-risk" youth by providing transformative programming that will empower them to assume leadership positions in their families and communities.

For more information, visit www.frontlinedads.org

MENTOR

The MENTOR Program, an initiative of the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania, seeks to interrupt the cycle of recidivism by providing a holistic and supportive reentry experience through mentoring and case management, thereby reducing recidivism rates.

For more information, visit www.courts.phila.gov/mentor

Mothers in Charge

Mothers in Charge is a violence prevention, education and intervention-based organization, which advocates and supports youth, young adults, families and community organizations affected by violence.

For more information, visit www.mothersincharge.org

Pa Legal Aid Network

The Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network is a statewide consortium of independent legal aid programs that provides civil legal assistance to low-income individuals and families. The Network is comprised of nine regional legal aid programs, providing legal assistance to eligible clients in every county in Pennsylvania, and six specialized legal aid programs, providing legal services in specialized areas of the law or to special groups of eligible clients.

For more information, visit www.palegalaid.net

Philadelphia Futures

Philadelphia Futures is a non-profit organization that provides Philadelphia's low-income, first-generation-to-college students with the tools, resources and opportunities necessary for admission to and success in college.

For more information, visit www.philadelphiafutures.org

Philadelphia Lawyers for Social Equity

Philadelphia Lawyers for Social Equity's (PLSE) mission is to work toward just outcomes for low-income individuals who have had contact with the Pennsylvania criminal justice system. Through individual representation, strategic litigation, community education, research, and legislative advocacy, PLSE advocates for a more equitable social environment for those with criminal records, including expanding access to employment and social services.

For more information, visit www.plsephilly.org

Philadelphia Youth Network

Philadelphia Youth Network's mission is to create coordinated systems which promote the attainment of academic achievement, economic opportunity and personal success.

For more information, visit www.pyninc.org

Steppingstone Scholars

Steppingstone Scholars is dedicated to addressing educational inequality by creating pathways to educational opportunities that lead to college completion and our scholars successfully gaining the skills they need for success in the workforce.

For more information, visit www.steppingstonescholars.org

Summer Search

Summer Search believes young people should have the opportunity to fulfill their potential, regardless of their circumstances.

For more information, visit www.summersearch.org/philadelphia

United Way (Supporting Read by 4th in Philadelphia)

To harness, leverage and strategically invest the collective power of donors, advocates and volunteers, to drive measurable results that improve the lives of people in our region.

For more information, visit www.unitedforimpact.org

Read by 4th is a citywide campaign bringing together an ever growing coalition of partners working towards a shared vision that all children will be reading on grade level by the time they enter the 4th grade.

For more information, visit www.readby4th.org

Why Not Prosper

Why Not Prosper is a grassroots 501(c)(3) organization founded by a formerly incarcerated woman for formerly incarcerated women. We are strong advocates for women and we are committed to providing programs and services that support women in their re-entry efforts from prison to community. We provide a continuum of programs that includes pre-release mentoring to incarcerated women, residential services at Why Not Prosper House and community services at our resource center located in Philadelphia PA.

For more information, visit www.whynotprosper.wixsite.com/whynotprosper

Youth Sentencing & Reentry Project

The Youth Sentencing & Reentry Project (YSRP) uses direct service and policy advocacy to transform the experience of children prosecuted in the adult criminal justice system and to ensure fair and thoughtful resentencing and reentry for individuals who were sentenced to life without parole as children ("juvenile lifers").

For more information, visit www.ysrp.org