St. Malachy Catholic School students got the surprise of a lifetime this #GivingTuesday when hometown hero Haason Reddick (he graduated from Temple University!) and UnitedHealthcare teamed up to bring the spirit of Giving Tuesday to North Philadelphia!
In partnership with the Dreambuilders Foundation and Business Leadership Organized for Catholic Schools (BLOCS), UnitedHealthcare and Haason Reddick, outside linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles, donated over 200 brand new coats to our students to encourage them to live an active lifestyle and spend more time playing outdoors.
Excitement filled the air as our middle school students filled the auditorium, not knowing what big surprise waited in the wings for them. The number of teachers and staff wearing Philadelphia Eagles shirts might have given them a clue, as they were led to sing the “Fly, Eagles, Fly” song.
Finally, a UnitedHealthcare executive took the podium and proceeded to give the students clues as to who their special guest could be. When he got to the third clue, the room erupted in cheers as he shouted the words, “He is #7 on the Philadelphia Eagles”!
Haason Reddick spoke to students about the importance of being active and playing outside and personally presenting each 5th grader at St. Malachy with a winter coat from Turtle Fur, a sustainable outerwear B Corp, to keep them warm while playing outside this winter.
Before Mr. Reddick departed, our Principal, Mrs. Rafferty, led the students to recite the Malachy creed for him and then it was his turn to lead the students to chant, “E-A-G-L-E=S Eagles!” Several lucky students were chosen to take pictures with Mr. Reddick before he exited the auditorium and the students sitting in the front row were thrilled to receive high fives and first-bumps from their beloved Eagles player!
We are so grateful to Mr. Haason Reddick, the Dreambuilders Foundation, BLOCS, and UnitedHealthcare for making this possible- it was a day we will never forget!
Hasson Reddick Visit: Photo Gallery
