Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation: Celebrity Supporters

The Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation has been forging partnerships to revitalize communities throughout the country. Their affordable housing program has assisted over 200 low-income, hard working families and individuals to meet their most basic need – a place to call home.

The Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation exists to combat issues that force families and individuals into economic despair. Through the funding and creation of programs and partnerships, we support innovative community efforts to break the cycle of poverty and homelessness.

It is the organization’s goal to recognize and maximize the human potential in those affected by poverty and homelessness by offering assistance in establishing programs that provide for permanent, affordable housing while supporting social services and job training programs.

The Foundation started its work through the localized efforts of the Philadelphia Soul Arena Football Team and its celebrity owners (which included Jon Bon Jovi). The Foundation quickly expanded its work to have a national presence in it’s commitment to develop role models for their city on the individual level, corporate level, and community level by developing, promoting, and assisting in innovative and long-lasting solutions to rebuilding pride in one’s self and one’s community – one SOUL at a time.

Timeline of Projects:

*Coinciding with the Foundations launch on October 6, 2006, the Foundation also announced they would partner with Project H.O.M.E. to help rebuild 15 homes in North Philadelphia (project concluded November 2007)

*In April 2007, the JBJSF partnered with Habitat for Humanity -NYC and Delta to do a 3 day build to complete a nine-unit, three-story condominium complex in Brooklyn, NY.

*In November 2007, the JBJSF assisted the Habitat for Humanity’s Jimmy Carter Work Project in launching a 3 year commitment to building an additional 150 homes in Los Angeles County.

*In May 2008, joining again with Project H.O.M.E. the JBJSF committed to assisting with building & updating the Saint Elizabeth’s Recovery Residence in Philadelphia, PA which provides assistance to veterans.

*In July 2008, Habitat for Humanity-Detroit, Saturn Hands on Homes, and the JBJSF announced that they would work together to build 5 new homes in the MorningSide community on Detroit’s East Side. The first home owner moved in on December 12, 2008.

*In September 2008, JBJSF and HELP USA broke ground on a 51 unit complex which offers affordable housing with support services for low-income and special-needs person in Newark, NJ. The HELP Genesis JBJ Soul Homes opened on December 8, 2009

*In July 2009, HomeAid Atlanta and JBJSF broke ground on a 16 unit apartment complex with a community room. The Phoenix Pass Complex is a long-term transitional housing complex (the first in Rockdale County, Georgia) serving families, particularly women with children, who are experiencing temporary homelessness in the Conyers/Rockdale County Community. Phoenix Pass is schedule to open in April of 2010.

*October 19, 2009: JBJSF and Greater Camden Partnerships came together for GreenUP, a “clean & green” initiative that cleaned more than 81 lots (141,000 square feet of vacant land. The final phase of the GreenUP program had volunteers planting shrubs and more than 50 trees.

*October 19, 2009: JBJSF and SAP partnered together along with KaBOOM! to build a new playground for the children at the Rafael Cordero Molina Elementary School in Camden, NJ.

*October 19, 2009: JBJSF announces their commitment to expand its work in Camden, NJ by partnering with long time community cornerstones: Saint Joseph’s Carpenter Society (5 homes) and Heart of Camden (12 homes)

*December 8, 2009: The HELP Genesis JBJ Soul Homes opened in Newark, NJ

*April 14, 2010: Dedication and ribbon cutting for Phoenix Pass Complex in Rockdale County, GA

*May 10, 2010: JBJSF announces they will be one of the grantees from the proceeds of the AT&T National Golf Tournament, which will be held June 29th – July 4th of 2010.

*June 2010: JBJSF partners with Hopeworks ’N Camden on their C.R.I.B. (Community Responding In Belief) Program. A 10-bedroom, three-story residence will be built for students to move in. The current plan is to have approximately four initial student residents, with the possibility of a maximum of 12 youth living together, with tenants cycling in and out, as they start and finish school.

*June 24, 2010: JBJSF announced as one of the partners in building Rights of Passage, Covenant House Pennsylvania’s newest project. Rights of Passage will provide temporary housing for 20 homeless youth under the ages of 21 and will consist of 10 two bedroom units of affordable housing.