Raising More than a Glass: Jason Kelce Returning to The OD for a Super Cause
Eagles icon Jason Kelce is flanked by Angelo Cataldi (left) and Al Morganti as he entertains a crowd estimated at nearly 100 in Paddy’s Green during an early-morning broadcast last June, hours before his second annual charitable event at The Ocean Drive.
Kelce takes a selfie with the crowd at the 2022 event.
What do you get when you combine a fundraiser, an iconic Sea Isle venue, and the most popular player from Philadelphia’s most popular team?
You get a good time for a great cause.
That’s exactly what fans can expect at Jason Kelce’s highly anticipated 3rd Annual Celebrity Guest Bartender event to benefit the Eagles Autism Foundation. The fundraiser with the Eagles’ colorful, five-time All-Pro center is set for Wednesday, June 28 at The Ocean Drive complex, where the Sea Isle community will once again rally to raise funds for autism.
The Fundraiser
“As someone who’s been coming to Sea Isle for years and years, I knew this island would embrace something like this,” says Ryan Hammond, executive director of the Eagles Autism Foundation. “Not only has the Sea Isle community not disappointed, but it’s gotten continuously better.”
It’s also gotten so much bigger. Hammond recalls the simple origin story of this freewheeling fundraiser that’s quickly becoming an urban legend.
“It was a Thursday night, and we were at the arcade with our kids, and so many people were coming up and asking Jason to take a photo with them. And he’s so gracious with everyone,” she recalls. “Eventually, I said, ‘You should really do a fundraiser down here if this is the level of interaction you’re having.’ And he said, ‘I would do that.’”
Hammond quickly reached out to The Ocean Drive’s general manager, Mike Ferry. “By the next morning Mike was at my house with a legal pad, a pencil, and a bag of doughnuts,” Hammond laughs. “That was Friday, and we had the first event the following Wednesday. We planned it in five days and had no idea what to expect.
“We knew that the cover charge would be donated to the foundation and all the bartenders and staff would donate their tips. Then we just kind of leveraged all the different opportunities within that guest bartending experience. So, we had raffles and beer chugging against Jason, to organically raise money in total Sea Isle fashion.”
It was an unmitigated success. “Just from the participation of the community, that first year we raised over $50,000 and last year we came in over $100,000,” Hammond shares. “So, now we feel another opportunity to exponentially elevate the fundraising.”
The event grew last year when 94 WIP SportsRadio broadcast its morning show from Paddy’s Green, a kids’ event was added before the 21-and-over “bartending,” and Jason brought along a few very special guests, including his brother Travis, the Kansas City Chiefs’ star tight end, and Eagles offensive tackle Jordan Mailata.
This year WIP is scheduled to broadcast again for a longer time slot on Paddy’s Green, and while details aren’t confirmed at this time, excitement is high for the surprises and “special guests” Kelce might have in store to help raise even more money for the Eagles Autism Foundation.
Ocean Drive manager Kathy Larkin with the main attraction at the first fundraiser in 2021.
Ocean Drive and O’Donnell’s Pour House staffers pose with the appropriately positioned center.
The Mission
The Foundation itself came from the vision and commitment of Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie. “He has a personal connection to autism that really inspired him to lend the Eagles brand to be the voice of it,” Hammond explains.
That personal interest would be a spark that allowed Lurie and the Eagles Autism Foundation to light a much, much bigger flame. Since launching in 2018, the foundation has raised more than $20 million. And every dollar raised goes directly to the cause. “It’s not just that we raise money, it’s really about being transformational,” says Hammond. “We don’t hold back a dollar for operating or anything. Whatever we raise is given out to the community.”
And the community keeps growing. “Beyond any personal connection, it was really the increased prevalence of autism and the need from families that inspired Jeffrey to make this part of his legacy as an NFL owner,” says Hammond. “In fact, the CDC just released new data stating that 1 in 36 children has been identified with autism spectrum disorder [ASD]. Knowing the Eagles have the ability to bring people together, we really thought that this foundation could be something special.”
Indeed. Money raised by the Eagles Autism Foundation is used to fund groundbreaking research, community grants that help families dealing with autism today, and postdoctoral fellowships in the field of autism.
Funds are distributed with precise intent, deep awareness, and the goal of changing people’s lives. “We do it in a way that pretty much matches the rigor of how Howie Roseman selects our draft picks,” says Hammond. “So, you know that every dollar you give, 100% of that dollar is going to be impactful because it’s done with this rigorous evaluation to ensure there’s accountability. Raising millions of dollars is incredible, but giving it away with such rigor makes me feel really proud.”
Another point of pride is the Foundation’s mission of inclusion. The Eagles were one of the first teams to build a sensory room at their stadium to provide a positive experience for all guests with sensory challenges. “We also have sensory bags at our guest services booths, and all of our staff are trained for sensory inclusion,” Hammond continues. “We have adults on the autism spectrum who work at Lincoln Financial Field for events. Their first paycheck has come from the Eagles, and I just think that’s really special. Beyond that it’s making sure that whether it’s our kids’ club, our cheer clinics, or our camps, we’re investing in training, so the autism community is welcome to join side-by-side with their peers.”
In February, Super Bowl XVII provided an opportunity for both the team, and the Eagles Autism Foundation. “When we made the Super Bowl, I was immediately in touch with the folks at the league and KultureCity, who we partner with here, and we opened a sensory room at the NFL Experience, at the Footprint Center for the NFL Music Fest, and also at State Farm Stadium,” says Hammond. “They didn’t exist before we played the Super Bowl there. So, while we didn’t come away with the outcome we hoped on the field, we left our mark from an impact standpoint. What we’ve been able to do has been really special.”
Mike’s Seafood and the Sea Isle Community
Sea Isle City is also special to the Eagles Autism Foundation. “I’d like to give a nod to Sea Isle City and the community. Specifically, Mike’s Seafood and their commitment to autism has been inspirational,” Hammond says. “We recognize the hard work that Mike and Jeannie Monichetti have done creating the Polar Bear Run/Walk for Autism, and they certainly paved the way in town to really make autism a philanthropic priority and bring people together who are touched by it.”
Hammond believes this is part of what makes Sea Isle City the perfect place to host Jason Kelce’s Team 62 Fundraiser. “I think it’s something that brings families to this town, because they feel like Sea Isle is a place of acceptance,” she says. “The Monichettis’ setting the tone really made it easy for us to jump in and build upon that.”
Hammond is also grateful for the generous spirit and down-to-earth nature of the Sea Isle community itself. “This is still a grassroots destination event,” she says. “That’s the one thing, even knowing what it could be, Jason just really wants it to stay true, authentic Sea Isle.”
To that end, “The Ocean Drive could not be a better host for the event,” Hammond says. “We’ve also had different community members step up and sell pizza for donations. Those little things that the community has done to embrace this have just been awesome as well.”
The Ocean Drive
The folks at The Ocean Drive wouldn’t have it any other way. “We’re proud and excited that we’re able to host with them and it’s such a great event, we’re really happy to be a part of it,” says Ocean Drive manager Kathy Larkin. “It’s so crazy the way it started because Jason vacations down here and used to come to The Ocean Drive as a customer. He would also have his family and his parents, and they would come to the Pour House and have dinner. So, they were regular customers and just really nice people.”
Larkin is also proud of the staff at The Ocean Drive, The Sandbar, Paddy’s Green, and O’Donnell’s Pour House who work so hard to make the day possible.
“They’re very generous,” Larkin says. “All the bartenders and staff donate all the tips they make. It’s fun and great, but they’re working hard to make customers happy and raise money, so they’re all part of the fundraising. It’s all hands on deck, but they’re donating to a great cause and having a lot of fun, too.”
As a major part of organizing the logistics, Larkin is ready for the 2023 version of this ever-growing event. “The first year, it was at The Sandbar and Jason just came and it was awesome,” she says. “And we were like, ‘OK, we’re going to do it bigger and better next year.’ And we did it. I think this year will be even bigger and better.”
IF YOU WANT TO DONATE AND/OR ATTEND…
While it’s a day for fun and games, the Eagles Autism Foundation is at the heart of every interaction at Jason Kelce’s Team 62 Fundraiser at The Ocean Drive. If you can’t make it to the event, you can still
DONATE to the Eagles Autism Foundation on their website at philadelphiaeagles.com/eaglesautismfoundation/.
An exact schedule for all the festivities on June 28 is still being finalized. But the event will likely kick off in the late afternoon. If you plan to attend, remember that it will be “authentic” Sea Isle, right down to the line to get into The Ocean Drive. Your cover charge and all tips will be donated to the Eagles Autism Foundation.
Follow the Eagles Autism Foundation on Instagram @eaglesautism and Twitter @eaglesautism for updates and check out the website to learn more about the foundation, and all the Eagles Autism Foundation fundraising events.
