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hier der erste Teil - Jons Rede bei der Pressekonferenz

JON BON JOVI's SPEECH - OCTOBER 5, 2006 - PHILLY PRESS CONFERENCE

(Friday, October 6, 2006)
Following is the speech JON BON JOVI gave from the podium at the press event. in North Philadelphia on October 5, 2006 announcing the partnership to rebuild row homes. ** Please keep in mind, this is not a transcript; they may be slight variations in how the speech was actually delivered in a live setting to an audience** JON BON JOVI Speech
OCTOBER 5, 2006
PHILADELPHIA, PA
PRESS CONFERENCE to ANNOUNCE:
- Creation of THE PHILADELPHIA SOUL CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
- Partnership of JBJ, SOUL, HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, SATURN and PROJECT H.O.M.E.
- Announcement of JON BON JOVI TO BECOME HABITAT FOR HUMANITY AMBASSADOR
THANK YOU,
… SISTER MARY SCULLION
… JOAN DAWSON McCONNON
… JONATHAN RECKFORD
… JILL LAJDZIAK
… ALI WINKLER
And, of course, PRESIDENT CLINTON…

Thank you all for coming.
Why we are all here today?
In 2003 I became the co-owner of the Arena Football League’s PHILADELPHIA SOUL (along with my partner, Craig Spencer.) From the inception of our franchise, the mission was to use the team as a way to give back to the community. Each season our directive to the staff has been to find the LOCAL CAUSES, the Father Flanagan’s, if you will… help us find the ones who fell through the cracks. Nothing was too big and no one was too small. Our desire was simply to help those in need.

PLEASE UNDERSTAND, our team is not making money – and any money we do make, we give away. But I’m very proud to say that as we head into our fourth season, we have been able to give away more than 2 MILLION DOLLARS to local causes in the name of BON JOVI and THE PHILADELPHIA SOUL. We may have started small but we thought big. Whether it was a playground for the Northern Home for Children, beds for Covenant House, or starting a helpline for kids… the Soul were always there. Today we’re proud to announce the creation of the Philadelphia Soul Foundation – the natural extension of the team’s philanthropic work.

In the last year and a half, the Soul and I -- along with the band -- have become very involved with Habitat for Humanity. Between Houma, Louisiana and here in Philadelphia, we will have given 34 families a place they could call home.

I spend a lot of time here in Philadelphia. One night while I was looking out of my hotel window I saw a homeless man sleeping in front of City Hall.
I wanted to help him.
I wanted to fix that.
I realize the homeless problem is immense. And I realize that no one has all the answers. I needed help. That’s how I came to meet SISTER MARY SCULLION and PROJECT H.O.M.E.

It was Sister Mary who educated me about the need to provide not only shelter to the homeless but education and job training – it was all about breaking the cycle. Sister Mary opened my eyes and taught me to look at all the problems that combine together to form the bigger issue that is homelessness.

For example – job training -- you can’t even get a job working as a cashier at the local superstore without basic computer skills. Agencies like Project H.O.M.E. provide that job training that can take someone from a minimum wage job to just a $10.00 per hour job. And if you don’t think that sounds like much of a difference – think again. $5.00 per hour… $40.00 per day… $200.00 per week… That’s the difference in the quality and quantity of food you are able to feed your children. That’s the difference in being able to pay the electric bill or the phone bill – Because heat, electricity and phone service are not luxuries – they are basic necessities.

Habitat for Humanity’s work speaks for itself – you’ve seen it. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina and the Tsunami, for example, Habitat was there – rebuilding lives. And that’s just in response to disaster. In Habitat’s 30 year history, they’ve built more than 200,000 homes… and dreams, by offering families a chance to be first-time homeowners. The program’s successes are undeniable. But if you’re eligible for a Habitat home, you’re already in the top echelon of homelessness. What about those who can’t think about making rent or even having a warm place to sleep at night? That is where Project H.O.M.E. shines. By offering job training, education and social services, Project H.O.M.E. empowers individuals to break the cycle of homelessness. They can put them on the path to home ownership.

How do we bridge the purpose of Habitat with the PROMISE of Project H.O.M.E. ?
Well, this is why we’re here. What you see behind us is a new beginning. For the first time, Habitat For Humanity has partnered with a local provider. Together with support from our partners at SATURN, we are reconstructing these 15 row homes. This will be the new model. Here we have local service providers, Habitat for Humanity, and corporate America all working together to rebuild communities. It is my sincere desire to see these people BECOME their community. They become the homeowners and business owners and investors in their own future, reshaping their own neighborhood. We can’t let neighborhood become a thing of the past. We need to remember what neighborhood is about.

The Arena Football League is about ACCESSIBILITY and AFFORDABILITY and is PLAYED FOR AND BY PEOPLE WHO HAVE A DREAM.
That is what the SOUL is about.
That’s what this partnership is about.
We want to invite you to join our team.
The greatest social good is assisting individuals to take responsibility for themselves.
Together we can make a difference.
One soul at a time.
Thank you.

** Following Jon's speech, he introduced President Clinton. Here are his introductory remarks before President Clinton spoke:

I haven’t opened for anyone in a long time.
But in my eyes, this man is the biggest rock star in the world.

He was our President for eight years… though some of his most inspiring work has been since he’s left office.

With the creation of the Clinton Foundation and the Clinton Global Initiative, he has brought together the world’s brightest minds, leaders of industry and problem-solvers to identify the most pressing issues facing the world today. The mission is not only to eradicate poverty here in the US and worldwide, but create a global community of shared benefits, responsibilities and values… This year’s summit alone raised $7.3 Billion in commitments to tackle these challenges..

He has said “ALL OF US HAVE AN UNPRECEDENTED AMOUNT OF POWER TO SOLVE PROBLEMS, SAVE LIVES AND HELP SEE THE FUTURE.”

Truth is, this is the man who inspired me to become involved in philanthropy. His work makes me want to continue to do more.
And most of all… he never hesitates to help a friend.
It’s my honor to introduce the 42nd President of the United States… and my friend, Bill Clinton.

Ich mache jetzt erstmal doppelpostings, sonst würden die news nich passen.. (im moment is ja auch viel zu berichten)

JON BON JOVI and PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON in PHILADELPHIA, OCTOBER 5
(Friday, October 6, 2006)
PRESIDENT CLINTON JOINS JON BON JOVI AS THE ROCK ICON REVEALS A NEW MODEL OF PHILANTHROPY THAT UNITES GLOBAL & LOCAL CHARITIES & CORPORATE AMERICA

Jon Bon Jovi Has United Habitat For Humanity, Project HOME in Philadelphia, The Philadelphia Soul Charitable Foundation, and Saturn – Together They Will Renovate 15 Decaying Homes In One of Philly’s Most In-Need Neighborhoods

Habitat For Humanity Announces That Jon Bon Jovi Will Become Their First Ever Habitat Ambassador
(Philadelphia, PA – October 4, 2006) – Standing in front of a block of vacant homes in North Philadelphia, Jon Bon Jovi today announced Project HOME’s Phase V Homeownership Project – a unique partnership that he has brokered between Project HOME, Habitat For Humanity, the Philadelphia Soul Charitable Foundation, and Saturn that will undertake the renovation of 15 row houses in one of Philadelphia’s most poverty-ridden neighborhoods. President Bill Clinton attended, commending Jon Bon Jovi’s continued philanthropic efforts, the work of both Project HOME and Habitat For Humanity in the communities they serve, and companies such as Saturn who make community outreach a priority.

The Phase V Homeownership Project focuses on two blocks of historically significant, deteriorated row houses in North Central Philadelphia – the 1800 and 1900 blocks of North 23rd St. By employing “green building strategies,” Phase V will renovate existing structures into energy efficient homes containing Energy Star-rated appliances. In addition, reducing block density and developing side yards in the area are all significant steps in promoting long-term health, safety, and affordability for owners.

“We are thrilled to partner with Jon Bon Jovi, The Philadelphia Soul, Habitat, and Saturn,” enthused Sister Mary Scullion, co-founder of Project HOME. “Our collective talent and resources will expand our capacity and enable us to reach out to more families in need. This is another critical step forward for community revitalization in North Philadelphia.”

Jon Bon Jovi – singer, songwriter, co-owner of the Philadelphia Soul Arena Football Team, actor, and philanthropist – has had a relationship with Project HOME, whose efforts align with many of Habitat for Humanity’s own initiatives. Bon Jovi worked with Habitat last October (2005) when a Bon Jovi/Habitat For Humanity build of four homes in Philadelphia (which has since increased to six) served as the video shoot location for their chart-topping single, “Who Says You Can’t Go Home.” In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Bon Jovi would later make an appearance on Oprah with a surprise $1 million donation that has since been used by Oprah’s Angel Network and Habitat For Humanity to build 28 homes in Houma, Louisiana. Now, with plans for the 15 Phase V homes in place, Jon Bon Jovi is currently a motivating force behind a total of 49 homes being built for low-income families.

“These organizations have both made ‘home ownership through hard work’ a reality,” explained Jon Bon Jovi. “In working with Habitat and Project HOME, I’ve seen what a miraculous thing it is to hand someone the keys to a new home – not only a beautiful home that they can be proud to own, but a home that they’ve invested their own time, sweat, and resources in.”

Habitat For Humanity will assist with the development of Phase V and will spearhead the next phase of new homes (Phase VI).
“Habitat for Humanity is proud to be a part of this partnership and join Project HOME in providing decent housing in partnership with low-income families in Philadelphia,” said Jonathan Reckford, chief executive officer of Habitat for Humanity International. “We are also proud today to recognize Jon Bon Jovi as the first Habitat Ambassador of our newly created Habitat for Humanity Ambassador program.”

Project Home’s Phase V project represents an innovative public/private partnership with funds coming in from both sectors. While Sister Mary’s committed staff has worked tirelessly to secure public funding, it was the organization’s long-standing relationship with Jon Bon Jovi that made securing private funding a possibility. Saturn – who has worked closely with Bon Jovi on other initiatives – stepped up to round out the private sector financing needed to get Phase V off the ground.

“Since its inception, Saturn has embraced environmental commitment and giving back to the communities in which we do business,” said Jill Lajdziak, Saturn General Manager. “That’s why Saturn, along with its retailers and customers, are pleased to partner with Jon Bon Jovi, the Philadelphia Soul, Habitat for Humanity, and Project HOME to help construct eco-friendly homes for citizens of Philadelphia.”

The Phase V Homeownership Project is the continuation of Project HOME’s goal to revitalize their community by reducing blight and treating vacant properties one block at a time. Project HOME has led other initiatives in the area to empower inhabitants with a sense of responsibility and community with each other. These efforts include open-space/environmental enhancement, a community health service program, after-school and adult learning programs at the Honickman Learning Center and Comcast Technology Labs, and economic development along Ridge Avenue.

ABOUT PROJECT HOME:
Since 1989, Project H.O.M.E. has helped more than 7,000 people break the cycle of homelessness and poverty by providing a continuum of care that includes street outreach, supportive housing and comprehensive services that focus on health care, education and employment. We also work to prevent homelessness and poverty through comprehensive neighborhood revitalization in North Philadelphia. These efforts include the renovation of vacant or deteriorated houses which are then sold to first-time homebuyers, economic reinvestment along the Ridge Avenue Corridor, greening of vacant lots, adult and youth education and enrichment programs at the Honickman Learning Center and Comcast Technology Labs and community-based health care services. For more information go to http://www.projecthome.org

ABOUT JON BON JOVI:
Musician, singer, songwriter and actor, JON BON JOVI is most recognizable as the voice for the band BON JOVI. Since the group’s formation in the early 1980’s, BON JOVI has sold more than 100 MILLION records worldwide and at over 2,700 shows in 47 countries more than 32 million fans have seen BON JOVI in concert. The band’s latest album, HAVE A NICE DAY, includes the smash hit “Who Says You Can’t Go Home” which made history as Bon Jovi became the first rock band ever to have a #1 hit on the country chart. The tour that followed was one of the top grossing tours of 2005/2006, playing to more than 2 million concert-goers worldwide. As the co-owner of the AFL’s Philadelphia Soul, Jon Bon Jovi introduced a new model of sports ownership. From the inception of the franchise, the mission was to use the team to give back to the local community. Heading into their fourth season, the Philadelphia Soul Organization has given away $2 million to local causes. Bon Jovi’s charitable works focus on the issue of homelessness and include the creation of the Philadelphia Soul Charitable Foundation; the launch of a limited edition outerwear collection with Kenneth Cole New York (with proceeds benefiting HELP USA); partnering with Project HOME in Philadelphia; and a sustained partnership with Habitat for Humanity that has thus far provided 49 families with a place to call home. For more info visit http://www.bonjovi.com and http://www.philadelphiasoul.com

ABOUT HABITAT FOR HUMANITY INTERNATIONAL:
Habitat for Humanity International is an ecumenical Christian ministry that welcomes to its work all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating poverty housing. Since its founding in Americus, GA in 1976, Habitat has built more than 200,000 houses in nearly 100 countries, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than 1 million people. For more information, visit http://www.habitat.org

ABOUT GM:
General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world’s largest automaker, has been the global industry sales leader for 75 years. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 327,000 people around the world. With global headquarters in Detroit, GM manufactures its cars and trucks in 33 countries. In 2005, 9.17 million GM cars and trucks were sold globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, HUMMER, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn, and Vauxhall. GM operates one of the world’s leading finance companies, GMAC Financial Services, which offers automotive, residential, and commercial financing and insurance. GM’s OnStarr subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security, and information services. More information can be found at http://www.gm.com

UNd ein letztes Mal...

NEWS from PHILADELPHIA, PA

(Friday, October 6, 2006)
Thursday, OCTOBER 5th was a VERY busy day in the City of Brotherly Love.

The first part of the day's events was a large press conference in NORTH PHILLY. As outlined in the official press release (check this news section for the press release posted in its entirety) the purpose of the event was to announce several great initiatives:
1) The creation of THE PHILADELPHIA SOUL CHARITABLE FOUNDATION. More details on that will be forthcoming from the Soul in the coming weeks/months but it is the continuation of the exceptional charity work the organization has been doing so far in Philadelphia and the immediate regions beyond.
2) The groundbreaking partnership between HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, PROJECT H.O.M.E., SATURN and the PHILADELPHIA SOUL CHARITABLE FOUNDATION to rebuild and renovate 15 row homes in North Philadelphia. The press conference was held on the street where these current shells of homes now stand.
3) The announcement by HABITAT FOR HUMANITY that JON BON JOVI will be their new AMBASSADOR worldwide for their efforts.

The emcee of the press conference was the incredible, indomitable Sister Mary Scullion of Project H.O.M.E. -- she introduced Jon Bon Jovi who spoke to the gathered media and VIPS. He then introduced President William Jefferson Clinton who spoke to the crowd. They were followed by Jill Lajdziak, Saturn General Manager, and Jonathan Reckford, Habitat for Humanity International's CEO.

The second part of the day was the THE POWER OF WE: THE 2006 Libery Medal At The National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, PA. This was a black-tie event where former U.S. Presidents George H.W. Bush (41) and William Jefferson Clinton (42) were honored for their efforts with the Busk-Clinton Katrina Fund and the Bush-Clinton Tsunami partnership. The two former presidents transcended partisan and political differences and joined forces to raise more than $1 BILLION for disaster relief and recovery after the tsunami in South Asia in 2004 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

The first part of the Liberty Medal event was an outdoor event broadcast on the local Philadelphia ABC affiliate. It includes performances (including Julie Roberts who sang "America, The Beautiful", speeches by Philadelphia Mayor John F. Street and Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell, and the presentation/acceptance of the Liberty Medals by Bush and Clinton. The final element was a live performance by Jon Bon Jovi -- he performed an acoustic version of "Who Says You Can't Go Home", accompanied by Jeff Kazee (keyboards,) Bobby Bandiera (guitars) and Lorenza Ponce (violin.)

The second part of the Liberty Medal event was the sit-down dinner and program. Following introductions of all of the Honorable attendees and formal welcomes to all the guests, President Bush (41) spoke briefly to again thank those for attending, for presenting him with the Liberty Medal and commending the work the National Constitution Center has been doing. Then, Mayor Street and President Clinton took the stage. Mayor Street explained that they were doing something very special -- Jon Bon Jovi was behind honored with the City of Brotherly Love Award. After Mayor Street discussed Jon's exceptional work in Philadelphia, President Clinton went on to talk about the earlier event and announcement and the work Jon was doing with Habitat, Project H.O.M.E., Saturn and the Soul. With Governor Rendell joining them onstage, they asked Jon to come up and accept the award. A humble Jon proudly accepted the award and quoted Benjamin Franklin who said "Well done is better than well said" -- and honored all those famous and not joining him for their efforts. In conclusion, Governor Rendell noted that although Benjamin Franklin was born in Massachusetts, he is undoubtedly best know as Philadelphia's son. He said that while Jon Bon Jovi is absolutely a born and raised New Jersey man, he would make a great next Benjamin Franklin.

And then... it was a wrap. The evening winded down and everyone headed out into the Philadelphia night. Congratulations to Jon Bon Jovi on his City of Brotherly Love Award and Congratulations to Project H.O.M.E., Habitat For Humanity, The Philadelphia Soul Foundation and Saturn for their pioneering partnership.