As the world continues to join forces in the fight against COVID-19, Philadelphia Eagles Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Lurie has announced that he and the Philadelphia Eagles are making $1 million in donations to help combat the impact of COVID-19 in the City of Philadelphia. These donations will provide critical assistance to promote the well-being of essential healthcare workers and their families, while supporting local businesses during this global pandemic.

"From the moment that COVID-19 began to threaten our way of life, we have been actively involved in deep and thoughtful conversations around ways to best serve and support the well-being of those on the front lines and their families," said Jeffrey Lurie, Philadelphia Eagles Chairman and CEO. "As part of these careful discussions, and in collaboration with some of the best minds and thought leaders in our city, we have developed a comprehensive plan aimed at providing critical support to essential healthcare workers. It cannot be overstated how appreciative we are for everything these workers have done – and are doing – to care for those directly impacted by this global pandemic. Their bravery and courage are admirable. And their efforts, and those of their families, have made us all safer during these incredibly difficult times."

With the substantial need for personal protective equipment in healthcare facilities, Lurie and the Eagles will donate 100,000 N-95 masks to Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Health (Jefferson), Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and other local health systems. The donation will ensure that healthcare professionals have the adequate supplies and equipment needed to keep them safe, while protecting the health and safety of patients.

"As we continue to navigate through this unprecedented time in history, we could not be more appreciative of the Eagles' continued care and concern for our community," said Madeline Bell, President and CEO, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. "Ensuring the health and safety of our frontline staff, and of our patients and their families, is very important to everyone at CHOP, and we thank the Eagles for their tremendous support and friendship."

To ensure the American Red Cross can maintain a sufficient blood supply, avoid a potential shortage and in support of Convalescent Plasma efforts, Lurie and the Eagles will donate $250,000 to the American Red Cross through the National Football League's Draft-a-Thon. Draft-a-Thon, a fundraising component of the 2020 NFL Draft, is aimed at raising much-needed funds for the COVID-19 relief efforts of six national non-profit organizations. Through this campaign, each of the 32 NFL clubs selected one or more of these organization's local branches to receive a portion of the funding. The Eagles have selected the American Red Cross of Southeastern PA Region.

"This support from the Philadelphia Eagles will ensure the Red Cross can maintain a sufficient supply of blood and plasma to help local patients in need and provide critical relief services to people affected by disasters big and small," says Guy Triano, Regional CEO for the American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania.

In an effort to provide relief for essential workers and their families, and to also support local businesses and team partners, Lurie and the Eagles will purchase $225,000 worth of gift cards from ACME, Chickie's & Pete's, Dunkin', McDonald's and Wawa to be sent to employees at Jefferson and CHOP.

Through a $100,000 donation to Jefferson's Better Together Fund, the Eagles will provide resources to Jefferson employees facing unforeseen hardships due to the pandemic. In addition, the contribution will assist Jefferson students facing unexpected and unavoidable emergency expenses due to campus closures.

"We really are in this together, and on behalf of everyone at Jefferson, I'm deeply appreciative of the Eagles' support of our own team," said Stephen K. Klasko, MD, MBA, President of Thomas Jefferson University and CEO of Jefferson Health. "This crisis challenged us all, but I believe Philadelphia rose to meet it. Together, we got this."

Lurie and the Eagles are granting $35,000 each to the Jewish Family and Children's Service of Greater Philadelphia's Helping Healthcare Heroes Support Group and Uplift Center for Grieving Children to support the expansion of mental health services for essential workers and their families during these challenging times.

An additional $55,000 donation will benefit Vision To Learn (VTL) to support the continuity of the team's signature vision care program – the Eagles Eye Mobile powered by Vision To Learn. Through this grant, VTL will be able to maintain its staff and infrastructure, including vehicles and equipment.

Due to the pandemic and current inability to provide free eye exams and eyeglasses to children in need, VTL has generously donated the use of the Eagles Eye Mobile to Jefferson. The vehicle is currently located at the hospital's Center City testing site as mobile support and staff relief for COVID-19 healthcare professionals.