Jason Kelce surprises George Washington High School students
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- High school students in Northeast Philadelphia began their day with a surprise visit from Eagles star Jason Kelce. He joined a local nonprofit to support students on their path to new heights.
It's not the tunnel entrance at Lincoln Financial Field, but Kelce was met with quite the cheer as he surprised students at George Washington High School Tuesday morning.
"The man, the myth, the legend, Jason Kelce" is how he was introduced to students.
Kelce led a pep rally to reveal the new name for two educational nonprofits that have merged to expand their impact in the city. The new organization will be called Heights Philadelphia.
The program's co-president Sean Vereen says the new entity has an $11 million budget with 70 staff members who are ready to serve 3,000 high school students with college and career advising.
"We have 23 partnerships with colleges and universities to get kids better opportunities to get into college," Vereen said. "We have a career team that is developing internships. We're supporting students who go right into a career out of high school or kids who go all the way through college with advising and support."
Many of the students in the auditorium have the odds stacked against them, coming from low-income, inner-city Black and Brown communities.
Heights PhiladelphiaIntroducing Heights Philadelphia! This morning we celebrated the monumental moment of unveiling our new brand at George Washington High School, one of our 23 partner schools. Joined by GW’s nationally renowned Cheer Squad, Eagles player Jason Kelce, and an auditorium full of eager students, we announced our new name and our commitment, as Heights Philadelphia, to ensure all Philadelphia students graduate high school and achieve economic mobility through college and workforce success. Philadelphia Futures and Steppingstone Scholars are now Heights. Help us #ReachNewHeights by following us on Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, and Instagram (@heightsphilly) and spreading the word. Visit www.heights.org for more information.
Posted by Heights Philadelphia on Tuesday, December 13, 2022
"It would create more opportunities for students like me to access the tools they need for success and life," Rose said.
Kelce, who's no stranger to the struggle of the underdog, said it was important for his foundation, Be Philly, to partner with this program and invest in the youth.
"I ended up not getting a scholarship to go to any D1 schools, had a bunch of coaches tell me I wasn't good enough," Kelce said.
He adds that the city "has so much potential, so much pride and so much talent that goes unrealized daily."