Eagles send letter to donors about Vick
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
Eagles send letter to donors about Vick
Daily News staff
The head of the Eagles Youth Partnership has written a letter to donors in an effort to address concerns about the Eagles’ signing of Michael Vick.
The letter is dated last Wednesday and was sent with a transcript of the comments Jeffrey Lurie made at Vick’s introductory news conference. In the letter, EYP executive director Sarah Martinez-Helfman tries to separate the football decisions involving player moves from the work of the team’s charitable organization.
EYP was founded in June 1995 and "serves over 50,000 low income children in the Greater Philadelphia region every year with a focus on health and education programming," according to the team's Web site. Among its most well-known programs are the Book Mobile and the Eye Mobile.
The letter also addresses the background information the team gathered before signing Vick, sentiments similar to those the Eagles wrote to suitesholders and premium ticketholders on the day Vick was introduced.
Here is the text of the letter:
Since the announcement that the Philadelphia Eagles have signed Michael Vick, I have spoken with some of the Eagles Youth Partnership’s supporters. We hope you know how important your support is every day for the more than 50,000 children we serve each year who face daunting odds. These children encounter dangerous circumstances and decisions daily in their neighborhoods that can land them in jail or worse. Our impact on these children is made in the winter, spring, summer and fall, when the football team is on the field, and when they are off. Regardless of who became the Eagles’ last draft pick, which trade the team made recently, or which player was cut, the Eagles Youth Partnership’s mission is steady and unwavering.
This was a complicated and personal issue for the Eagles. Before signing Michael, many opinions were considered, including those we deeply value, from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, former Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy, and the president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, Wayne Pacelle. Each of these individuals has spoken about their belief that Michael is truly remorseful. But more importantly, Eagles’ leadership has spent a considerable amount of time with Michael himself and believe in his potential to perform well on the field and do good in the community. Along these lines, I have enclosed the transcript of Jeffrey Lurie’s comment regarding Michael Vick so that you can better understand how and why he was signed as a Philadelphia Eagle.
For now, we want to make sure you know that Eagles Youth Partnership is very sensitive to the issue and remains committed to providing the children of the Delaware Valley with eyeglasses, books, playgrounds and other programs that will help ensure that those youngsters will grow up to have every opportunity to fulfill their true potential.
We also want you to know how much we have appreciated your support.
Cordially,
Sarah Martinez-Helfman
Executive Director, Eagles Youth Partnership
*
KEVIN KOLB'S ROLE
While Andy Reid has yet to fully explain just how Michael Vick will fit into the quarterback rotation, he has been steadfast that Kevin Kolb is the backup quarterback, despite the logistical problem that seems to create with the NFL rules on how the gameday roster is structured.
Reid has said he pulled Kolb aside after the signing of Vick to assure him of his place.
"That gives me confidence to know that they have confidence and trust in me," Kolb told the Forth Worth Star-Telegram Saturday. "I think it’s a unique situation [with Vick]. They told me it has nothing to do with my injury or my camp. I had a good camp. We’ll just see how this plays out. I’m not sure if anybody knows what to expect. He’s here to help the team, and we’re trying to win a Super Bowl this year. So that’s the mentality."
Kolb turns 25 on Monday and has played in just seven games during that time. Still, he told the newspaper, as he has told the local media this summer, that he feels like he has a good grasp of the offense and just needs game experience.
"[The offense] is very natural," Kolb said. "I feel as confident and as comfortable in this system as I did in the system I ran with [Art] Briles in high school and college. I just lack that game-time experience, and once I can get that, we’ll see where I am, and I can hopefully be a starter [in the NFL] for however many years."
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CleanupPhilly, I guess your message would equally apply to troubled kids in the suburbs too.— Dolly92748- YO!! What does 'know ho important' mean?? Vick is Trash - the Eagles organization is Trash......but, hey, 'It's Business'. They could care less how we feel.— Tom Kearney
- The only troubled suburban "kids" the Eagles care about are both named Reid.— TomM
- CleanupPhilly -- Amen! As a non-profit professional, I know how hard it is to find funding. It would be terrible for kids to suffer because of Jeff Lurie's and Andy Reid's very poor decision, however, that may be the only way for them to recognize the egregiousness of their action and of Vick's crimes. Donors SHOULD withhold their funds contingent upon the release of Vick. It should be that simple. Eagles -- you don't want to hurt the kids, do you? You want them to continue to receive services, right? You want them to learn that crimes have consequences -- to set them on a better path, right? Okay, release Vick and you get our money, otherwise, the children suffer.— sbspacey
- @ sbspacey. Crimes do have consequences and Vick has more than paid his debt to society. Can you name one wealthy, famous white man who has served nearly 2 years in prison for a similar crime? I didn't think so. So get off your high horse and let the games begin!!!— strongforu
- DUH CRIMES HAVE CONSEQUENCES! The man went to jail, he was fined. He did his time and paid his fines. Why not instead allow Vick to speak to the children and let them learn from his mistakes. It is ridiculous to make children suffer from something that has NOTHING TO DO anything. He isn't a God, he isn't the starting quarterback he isn't making the money he was previously making. All of you are judging him as if he doesn't deserve a second chance. His life should end because he cruelly killed some dogs?? I am an inner city child and I am quite aware that things you do have consequences. What about the inner city kids that have already taken a bad path??? Why would they want to change their life if they thought that nothing they would do would enalbe them to have a second chance??— JaivaWms
- CleanupPhilly, I guess your message would equally apply to troubled kids in the suburbs too.— Dolly92748
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- sbspacey, who are you fooling? LOL, as if you're on the platinum list of donors! LOL, the only people whining are the virtual protestors who didnt even know about the Eagles youth foundation in the first place. Empty threats mean nothing.— mlr710
- Let's get real for a minute. He's still a great physical talent who still has potential to be a first string QB and he's coming at a small fraction of the salary that QBs command. SOMEBODY was going to pick up Michael Vick, so why not the Eagles?— FreeWilly
- TomM-Agreed 100%...Reid is "father of the year" and all Eagles fans are paying for his guilt and psychosis.— Dr. Michael
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- Will someone please explain something for me once and for all. How does having Mike Vick around do anything to stop or even slow down the dog fighting situation in Philadelphia. What is he going to do? Roll up in his limited Benz and tell these kids who have no father figures, leaders, etc. to not dog fight because you can go to jail and come out and you can still make $1.6mm. That seems like it will be very very effective. Vick would still be killing dogs today and making his $130mm contract today if he didn't get caught, everyone knows that. Simply because he goes to jail for a while, loses everything at his own peril, and comes back saying he's sorry doesn't mean anything and will do nothing to stop the situation in Philadelphia. Anyone who actually thinks that he will have any impact on kids in North Philly is lying to themselves. I'm not an Eagles fan by any stretch of the imagination, and I can't come up with any real reason why they did this. Jeffrey Lurie seemed to be 100% against this signing, I honestly have no idea why he signed off on this.— jbruder02
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