Philly holds kickoff for community events ahead of NFL Draft
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- The City of Philadelphia held a kickoff event on Tuesday to start projects in the community ahead of the NFL Draft.
The location was moved inside to the General George A. McCall Elementary and Middle School, and the students there were thrilled!
Getting kids active and involved one of the focal points of the community-end of the draft.
Keynote speakers for the community kickoff were Mayor Jim Kenny, Philadelphia Schools Superintendent William Hite, and former Eagles Quarterback Ron Jaworski.
"The reason Commissioner Goodell loved the fact that the draft was going to be in Philadelphia - his choice - not only football, not only the passion of the Eagle fans, for the Philadelphia Eagles, but it was a cultural aspect," Jaworski said.
The NFL has teamed up with the city for numerous events throughout draft weekend.
"From hospital visits to military appreciation events to character education events," said Anna Isaacson, the NFL's President of Social Responsibility.
But those events, like the Play 60 event at the school today, come and go with the draft.
Isaacson says they've teamed up with the city to fund a long-term flag football program.
"Girls and boys can be active and healthy through flag football long after the draft has come and gone," she said.
From the looks of it, the kids at General McCall today loved the idea of getting active.
When asked if it was fun, Ryan Anderson said "Yeah, it really was!"
We also spoke with Mayor Jim Kenny about his thoughts on the long-term impact the draft will leave on Philadelphia.
"You can't quantify the value of having Philadelphia, and its skyline, and its neighborhoods, and its amenities, seen on TV all day for three full days," he said.
Details of the flag football program are still being worked out, but we are told it's set to fund a new program here in the city for a long time to come.
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