DeSean Jackson Scores Big Off the Field Supporting Grieving Children

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DeSean Jackson, Inc., Mommy Light, Mommys Light, NFL, Philadelphia Eagles

DESEAN JACKSON SCORES BIG OFF FIELD SUPPORTING GRIEVING CHILDREN

Teams up with Mommy’s Light and Daddy’s Light to Meet Kids on Game Day!

Philadelphia, PA – 9/25/12 – In 2009, DeSean Jackson and his four brothers grieved the death of their father from pancreatic cancer. “I miss him every day. He inspired me to be successful on and off the field,” says DeSean, #10, a two-time Pro Ball wide receiver, for the Philadelphia Eagles and one of the league’s most dynamic players.

In an effort to honor his father’s memory, and to help families remember the life of a deceased parent, DeSean has teamed up with the nonprofit Mommy’s Light and Daddy’s Light to make a difference. DeSean and the Philadelphia Eagles have donated a special game day experience for eight (8) families a special game day experience for eight families during the course of the 2012 NFL season.

DeSean will meet with the kids and their families after each game to talk about the traditions they enjoyed with their loved ones and the importance of honoring and celebrating their memories. “I know what a tragedy it is for families who have to deal with the death of a parent,” says DeSean. “It’s important to keep the memories and traditions alive, and I’m glad to have a chance to bring smiles to these kids’ faces.”

“DeSean understands how important it is to focus on the healing aspects of remembering the life, and the love that never goes away,” says Laura Munts, President of the Board of Directors of Mommy’s Light and Daddy’s Light. “That’s what traditions are all about, and we are grateful to team up with him to support grieving families in this exciting way.” The organization’s mission is to bring joy and comfort to the grieving children and teens by helping them to keep alive traditions and simple pleasures they shared with their mothers and fathers.

www.mommyslight.org.

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About Mommy’s Light and Daddy’s Light:

Headquartered in Exton, Pennsylvania, and founded in 1997, Mommy’s Light and

Daddy’s Light is the nation’s sole provider of Tradition Fulfillment services to children ages 3 to 18, as well as, the only bereavement support program that happens in the child’s home environment.  The organiztion has fulfilled more than 1,000 traditions and provides free bereavement education resources to families, healthcare providers, school counselors, bereavement professionals and others.  For more information, visit: www.mommyslight.org

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Editor’s Note:

Additional Photos, video and interviews available

Media Contact:

Ellen Langas, NouSoma Communications, Inc.

Office 610-458-1580; Cell 610-256-2946; ellen@nousoma.com

Or  Mrs. Gayle Jackson, The DeSean Jackson Foundation; deseanjacksonfoundationceo@yahoo.com

NFL Films President Steve Sabol Succumbs to Cancer

Tags

DeSean Jackson, NFL, NFL Films, Steve Sabol

PRESS RELEASE

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September 18, 2012

On behalf of The DeSean Jackson Foundation, DeSean Jackson Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer; and, the Jackson Family, I extend our sincere condolences to the Family, friends and fans of NFL Films President, Steve Sabol.  Mr. Sabol’s vision, creativity and passion for the NFL and the professional athletes who are blessed to play in the league have been instrumental in enhancing, promoting and documenting the NFL history and individual player’s careers; developing & empowering legends; and, engaging professional NFL players, their opininons and interests both on and off the field.  I am truly grateful to Mr. Sabol.   – DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia Eagles

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Sep 18, 2012

By Michael Hiestand, USA TODAY  (Reprinted from USA TODAY, with permission)

Updated
2012-09-18 10:52 PM

NFL Films President Steve Sabol died Tuesday after a long battle with cancer.

CAPTION

Kirby Lee, US Presswire

NFL Films President Steve Sabol died Tuesday after an 18-month battle with brain cancer. He was 69.

“Steve Sabol was the creative genius behind the remarkable work of NFL Films,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. “Steve’s passion for football was matched by his incredible talent and energy. … He was a major contributor to the success of the NFL, a man who changed the way we look at football and sports, and a great friend.”

NFL Films began in 1962, when Sabol’s father, Ed, won film rights to the league’s championship game, which Steve worked as a cameraman.

Sabol is survived by his wife, Penny; his son, Casey; his parents, Audrey and Ed (who is 96); and his sister, Blair.

Under Steve Sabol, NFL Films pioneered video techniques such as super slow-motion, wireless microphones on players and dramatic music added to replay highlights.

His father was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame last year.

“My dad has a great expression,” Sabol said when his father’s induction was announced. ” ‘Tell me a fact, and I’ll learn. Tell me a truth, and I’ll believe. But tell me a story, and it will live in my heart forever.’ And now my dad’s story will be in Canton, and hopefully that will live forever, too.”

Father and son received the Lifetime Achievement Emmy from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in 2003. According to the NFL, Steve Sabol won more than 40 Emmy Awards and oversaw 107 Emmys for NFL Films.

The family requested donations be sent to the Jefferson Foundation for Brain Tumor Research, c/o Lindsey Walker, 925 Chestnut St., Suite 110, Philadelphia, Pa. 19107.

Mutual Respect: Ray Lewis and DeSean Jackson

Vintage Performance For WR Jackson

Posted Sep 16, 2012  [Reprinted by The DeSean Jackson Foundation, September 16,2012.]

By Bo Wulf

Somewhere, Ray Lewis has DeSean Jackson‘s jersey.
In a sign of mutual respect, Jackson and Lewis swapped game jerseys after the Eagles’ come-from-behind 24-23 win over the visiting Baltimore Ravens. Luckily for Lewis, that jersey’s going to have plenty of value following Jackson’s memorable performance on the day.
Listed as questionable with a hamstring injury coming into the game, Jackson fought through the injury that he said kept him to “85 to 90 percent” health. But Jackson didn’t just play, he made a significant impact, catching seven passes for 114 yards, including one 49-yard reception in double coverage. Jackson’s seven receptions were the most he’s accounted for since Week of the 2010 season, 25 games ago.
“It was almost like a game-time decision,” Jackson said. “But anything I could do to get out there and help my team win this game. I was actually able to get out here early. I felt (the hamstring) throughout the game a little bit, but still I was able to go out there and be productive.”
As he was stuffing Lewis’ purple jersey into his backpack, Jackson asked the media throng behind him how many turnovers the Eagles committed on the day. After shaking his head, the wide receiver explained why those giveaways are so frustrating.
“Going into halftime (losing) 17-7, we were very angry at ourselves and came in the locker room and said that the second half was going to be different,” Jackson said. “When we went out there in the second half, it definitely proved that we can play with the best in this league. You cut away those turnovers, I think best team in the league, hands down.”
In what became a very physical game, Jackson was often in the middle of the post-play extracurricular activities, even drawing an offsetting 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty after a shoving match with Ravens cornerback Cary Williams. Later, when Jackson found himself on the other end of Michael Vick‘s 49-yard toss down the right sideline, Jackson took a big hit from the safety but held onto the ball. As teammates came over to check on the receiver, Jackson proceeded not only to lift himself back up, but to show off a few pushups first. In all, it was the kind of vintage DeSean performance that had been missing at times last season.
And for his part, after two hard-fought one-point victories, Jackson, never one to lack confidence, believes that something special is brewing with this Eagles team.
“I’m just very impressed about the guys today,” Jackson said. “. We know what we have in store honestly. We had a great mini-camp, a great offseason and things like that. With this being the second game of the year, having the preseason we had, going undefeated, I think we’re just trying to keep everything on a roll. As long as we’re able to keep playing the way we are right now, like I said, sky’s the limit.”

Make sure to follow us on Twitter @EaglesInsider.

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Note:  Pictures of Ray Lewis’ Jersey were taken by Mrs. Gayle Johnson-Jackson and the jerseys remain in the possession and personal property with exclusive rights granted to Mr. DeSean Jackson, CEO, of Philadelphia Eagles.  Please note the logo in memory of Art Modell adorns the Jersey. – 

DeSean Jackson gives The Wounded Warrior Project $50,000

Eagles’ DeSean Jackson donates $50,000 to Wounded Warrior Project

September 13, 2012|By Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer

FORT DIX, N.J. – When DeSean Jackson was drafted by the Eagles, he knew very little about Philadelphia – except that his cousin lived there.

Jackson said he didn’t know his father’s first cousin Jimmy Jackson very well until he arrived in 2008. But he was family and the receiver was far from home, so they started spending a significant amount of time together.

His cousin, DeSean Jackson said, “showed me the ropes” of living in Philly. But Jackson said he learned much more from Jimmy Jackson, 64, who served in the Vietnam War.

“The more I hung around him and spent time with him, I could tell how fighting in Vietnam affected his life after the war – injuries, mentally,” Jackson said Tuesday. “I really couldn’t imagine what he went through and what he saw on an everyday basis when he was in the war.”

Jimmy Jackson became the inspiration for the Eagles receiver’s getting involved with the Wounded Warrior Project. DeSean Jackson donated $50,000 to the organization that provides aid to servicemen and women who suffered injuries and illnesses on or after Sept. 11, 2001.

“This is our mission – to honor and empower,” said Owen O’Shea of Wounded Warrior. “With this money, we’re fueling 18 different programs – not only focusing on the warrior but on their family as well.”

O’Shea said that Jackson approached Wounded Warrior about doing something to honor the men and women of the military who, like his cousin, are still afflicted.

“The money being raised today and the awareness tell everyone that we are still at war,” O’Shea said. “We still have men and women returning at a scary number not only with physical injuries but nonphysical injuries as well.”

Jackson, 25, presented the check on Tuesday at the Soldier and Family Assistance Center at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. He signed autographs for soldiers and alumni of Wounded Warrior. Jackson also played cards, shot pool, and posed for pictures.

He then went outside and tossed a football around.

Jackson’s mother, Gayle, said that his cousin would have attended the event, but had doctors’ appointments he could not miss. Jimmy Jackson was a sergeant in the Army and earned two Purple Hearts and two bronze stars.

He became a surrogate to DeSean Jackson after his father, Bill, died of pancreatic cancer in April 2009.

“Once my dad passed away, he stepped up and was there for me a lot,” Jackson said.

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Contact Jeff McLane at 215-854-4745 or jmclane@phillynews.com, or follow on Twitter @Jeff_McLane.