NFL Hosts Community Events Throughout Draft Week
The impact of the 2017 NFL Draft will extend far beyond the Benjamin Franklin Parkway through the NFL's many community events planned for Draft week across Philadelphia. From hospitals to schools, flag football to family football clinics, thousands of local children and their families will experience the excitement of Draft through a series of free events.
The NFL Foundation is providing a grant to the School District of Philadelphia to fund flag football programs for local youth athletes. The donation will be used to fund the expansion of flag football and supply key resources and equipment for in-school and after-school programs.
NFL Draft prospects will spend time with pediatric patients and their families and cheer them on while they participate in a PLAY 60 obstacle course at Shriners Hospitals for Children. In 2015, the NFL and Shriners Hospitals for Children teamed to create the NFL PLAY 60 All-Ability Guide, which includes adaptive activities to help children with different physical abilities live an active lifestyle.
Character Playbook, a joint initiative of the NFL and United Way Worldwide powered by EverFi, an education technology leader in more than 20,000 schools across the nation, will launch in Philadelphia at William Ziegler Elementary School. The digital course uses evidence-based strategies to educate students on how to cultivate and maintain healthy relationships during their critical middle school years.
Students will go through the six interactive modules that engage them with true-to-life scenarios including bystander intervention strategies and positive relationship examples. Philadelphia Eagles Legends will then engage in a conversation with students on the importance of character and integrity on and off the field.
Children from local schools and organizations will take part in private youth football clinics at the Play Football Field presented by Danimals April 27-29. Participants will take part in hour-long PLAY 60 skills and drills sessions, led by USA Football coaches.
In addition to these private clinics, thousands of children from the Philadelphia community are invited to take part in public youth football clinics, which will take place at the Play Football Field.
An interactive area specifically designed for the youngest NFL fans to get active and moving, the NFL PLAY 60 Zone presented by Danimals includes an obstacle course, virtual fitness stations and more.
The NFL and Special Olympics will host a football skills and drills clinic followed by a Special Olympics Unified Flag Football game featuring Special Olympics Pennsylvania athletes.