TMJF Host 3rd Annual Blitz, Bow-Ties & Bourbon in Philadelphia

The Malcolm Jenkins Foundation’s 3rd Annual Blitz, Bow-Ties and Bourbon fundraiser, was held Monday, October 24th at the historical Union Trust at 717 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, P.A. The highly-anticipated event drew more than 200 attendees, including Philadelphia’s most influential business leaders and celebrities, and many of Jenkins’ Philadelphia Eagles teammates. The event raised more than $90,000 to expand the Foundation’s Philadelphia-based youth programs. Blitz, Bow-Ties & Bourbon, had a luxurious vibe from the beginning as Jenkins and other Eagles players arrived in Bentley and Rolls Royce vehicles, courtesy of F.C. Kerbeck & Sons. As guests walked the red carpet, Philadelphia Jazz legend, Luke Carlos O’Reilly and Friends of Black Tie Entertainment, owned the main stage with electric performances throughout the night. Sponsors and VIP ticket holders were treated to a pre-event exclusive experience, hosted by Maker’s Mark that included: a live wax dipping for personalized rocks glasses, a small batch bourbon tasting and presentation by Beam Suntory Bourbon Master, Rob Mullane, Maker’s Mark soaked cigars, as well as, personalized custom etching of Knob Creek Whiskey bottles. Guests had the opportunity to get footballs personally autographed by Eagles stars Malcolm Jenkins, Jon Dorenbos, Jordan Matthews, Connor Barwin, Jordan Hicks, Nolan Carroll, Rodney McLeod, Zach Ertz and Chris Maragos, all in attendance.       SpiritForward’s Dan Hamm and his team of mixologists presented customized craft cocktails and guests noshed on signature bites from Bank & Bourbon’s Chef Thomas Harkins, Chef Josh Lawler from Farm and Fisherman, Chef Chip Roman of Blackfish and Tradestone Chocolate, Executive Chef Jon Oh and Chef Joseph Nocella from Scarpetta, and Executive Chef Terry Owens from Capital Grille.Malcolm Jenkins, Founder and Chairman of The Malcolm Jenkins Foundation, spoke passionately from the stage as he officially opened the evening program. Announcing his commitment to improving the lives of youth and their families in underserved communities, he spoke about the plight of children in Philadelphia’s Promise Zone, a two-mile radius in Western Philadelphia, which currently has a 57% poverty rate and lack of educational resources. In July 2016, the Foundation collaborated with Drexel University’s ExCITe Center to create Summer S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Athletics, & Mathematics), a newly innovative week-long day camp for middle school students that uniquely integrates science, math, and technology with areas of creative and performing arts and athletics including Music Technology (Acoustics and Sound Synthesis), Visual Arts (Geometry and Drawing/Painting), Game Design & Coding (Dance Algorithms, Creating Pixel Art), Athletics (Technology for Analyzing Performance) and Dance (Biology and Movement). Jenkins vowed that the Foundation will increase its programming each year to expand opportunities for youth and thanked attendees for their donations and support.Eagles Long Snapper and Magician Jon Dorenbos (“America’s Got Talent” “Ellen”) dazzled the crowd with a magic trick that literally had the room shaking with laughter, as he opened the live auction. Guests had the opportunity to bid on unique travel experiences from G2G Collection and one-of-a-kind memorabilia items provided by CSM. Blitz, Bow-Ties, & Bourbon was made possible through the generosity of the Foundation’s sponsors and corporate partners including Piascik, Thomas Jefferson University & Jefferson Health, The Money Athlete, The Ohio State University, Eagles Charitable Foundation, Beam Suntory / Maker’s Mark, Rock Avenue Bow-Ties, Ltd., G2G Collection, NBC10, 94 Sports WIP and F.C. Kerbeck & Sons.