STAND UP

We're going to put football aside for now and focus on a truly unprecedented event that will be taking place in just two days. The Philadelphia Soul, Philadelphia radio stations and the Philadelphia Children's Alliance are teaming up to help bring justice and healing to child victims of sexual abuse. Here's a straight quote from the Philadelphia Children's Alliance's website:

"On Monday, January 30, we will launch the STAND UP Radio Rally - a one day awareness campaign created in response to recent and troubling headlines related to the sexual abuse of children. During the 18 hours of the Radio Rally, for every ticket sold to the Soul home opener (April 1st), Philadelphia Soul will donate $15 to support the important work of Philadelphia Children's Alliance. Join with Mayor Michael Nutter, ESPN Monday Night Football broadcaster and Soul owner Ron Jaworski, Congressmen Mike Fitzpatrick and Chaka Fattah, The Roots keyboardist Kamal Gray, Last Comic Standing Todd Glass, Philadelphia Eagles Coach Andy Reid, wide receiver Chadd Hall, and Longsnapper Jon Dorenbus (and his wife Julie),  Olympic Gold Medalist Carl Lewis, Eagles Legend Vince Papale, PHL17/NBC10 host Steve Highsmith, Survivor Rhett Hackett, and many others who will take the pledge to support Philadelphia's child victims. Visit philadelphiasoul.com/STANDUP to take the pledge and buy your ticket to donate $15 in support of Philadelphia Children's Alliance."


It's a remarkable gesture for the Philadelphia Soul organization to donate $15 from every $28 ticket sold to the Philadelphia Children's Alliance; that's a 54% donation from every ticket sold. Monday, January 30th, is the first day that single game tickets go on sale and what better to commemorate the occasion than to put the entire focus on such a worthy cause. The radio stations (including WMGK 102.9 FM, WMMR 93.3 FM, WBEN 95.7 FM, WPEN 950 AM, WPEN 97.5 FM) will be put to good use as the Soul and the Philadelphia Children's Alliance work to spread the sad, but important message of child sexual abuse.


This of course comes in wake of the recent Penn State scandal involving former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky and numerous accusations of fowl play with numerous child victims. It's such a unique partnership that brings multiple benefits to all parties involved. The awareness of child sexual abuse is the primary focus obviously and it's a welcomed event that many other organizations would be hard pressed not to participate in. I think it's a no-brainer that the Pittsburgh Power at the very least should do something very similar if not join the Soul to help bring forth this message. Pennsylvania's two biggest cities, east and west, joining together to bring awareness to child sexual abuse and eventually meeting in the middle at State College (where this whole mess began) would be monumental. It would bring publicity to both teams and the sport of arena football as well. What other sports team would donate 54% of each ticket sold? It doesn't matter what level the AFL is on fan wise, the point of the matter is the Philadelphia Soul are doing something one step in the right direction for all of Pennsylvania and the entire United States.


This event will assure an electric atmosphere for the Soul's 2012 home opener on April 1st against division rival the Cleveland Gladiators. Hopefully this sparks a fan base that hasn't been the same since the Soul's 2008 championship. Bringing fans back to the game of arena football while also educating the masses is a great opportunity for all involved. Here's to thanking the classiest organization in the AFL for such a wonderful event and hoping for great success to come from it.