Jason Kelce is known for his generosity, especially during the holiday season, but this year he aimed to take his charitable work to a whole new level. In partnership with his fellow Eagles teammates Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson, Kelce set out to make a significant impact in Philadelphia. This year’s project, connected to his charity album A Philly Special Christmas Party, benefited local charities for the third consecutive year.
Inspired by this project, Kelce and his teammates reached out to former Eagles player Connor Barwin with an ambitious plan. The goal was to use the proceeds from their holiday album to provide gifts for every student in the Philadelphia public school district. Barwin, initially doubtful, was convinced by Kelce’s determination. “Jason pushed me,” Barwin said in a video on Kelce’s YouTube channel, revealing the scope of the idea.
As the holiday season drew near, the group, now dubbed the “Operation Snowball” team, got to work. Within just a couple of weeks, Kelce shared the impressive progress. He revealed a warehouse filled with toys and gifts, showcasing the extraordinary scale of the operation. Kelce described the effort as monumental, praising the collaboration between schools, teachers, and volunteers. He noted that such a large-scale operation would have been difficult to pull off anywhere else but Philadelphia.
Just a week before Christmas, the team expanded their efforts by recruiting comedian Pete Davidson. Davidson, a former Saturday Night Live star, helped distribute gifts to students at Benjamin Franklin High School. He humorously referred to himself as an “Eagles WAG” during the event, adding a lighthearted touch to the holiday cheer. Meanwhile, Kelce made stops at other local schools, including Kirkbride Elementary, where he was gifted several friendship bracelets from students, a playful nod to his brother Travis’s girlfriend, Taylor Swift.
At the Alliance for Progress Charter School, Kelce took a moment to address the students, sharing a heartfelt message. “To see the joy on all of your faces makes the whole thing worth it,” he told them. He emphasized the importance of the holiday season and the joy of giving. When a local reporter mentioned that some students planned to share their gifts with their siblings, Kelce humorously joked about regifting, further showing his playful side.
In the end, Operation Snowball successfully distributed over one million gifts, reaching more than 200,000 students across 338 schools in the city. Barwin reflected on the power of this gesture, emphasizing how impactful it was for the kids to feel seen and valued. The operation was a testament to Kelce’s commitment to giving back and making the holidays brighter for countless Philadelphia students.
