Steve was a visionary. He had big dreams and huge plans to change the world.
He spent his life playing small roles in big missions.

As athletes, we like to go out on top. Sports Philanthropy Project was the last team that Steve played for. Thank you, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Sports Philanthropy Project for your vision, for your work. It is because of you, that Steve was able to do his life work! I thank you for allowing Steve to be a part of your team.

The Steve Patterson Sports Philanthropy Award captures what Steve lived for. You have created something that reminds us of his passion to serve. And best of all to encourage, assist and honor the people that are truly making a difference every day!

It was such a gift to be a part of this award. Thank you for allowing me to review the applications, to give input to the award and to play a small role in this wonderful vision.

After the process of selecting the first recipient of Steve’s award, I went back through Steve’s files and found his notebook from the 2003 Sports Philanthropy Conference. I wanted to connect with him. I wanted to go back in time to when he was at the conference. I wanted a glimpse of what he was thinking about and what made an impact on his life at that time. I thought maybe I would find something that would be his message that I could deliver when we awarded the first recipient of the Steve Patterson Sports Philanthropy Award. I opened his notebook and in the front flap, I found a notepad filled with handwritten notes.

His notes read:
Philadelphia Eagles Youth Partnership
Eagles- Eye Mobile, Bookmobile, Playground Build
“Youth Partnership” (name says it all) “Special Teams”
and it went on for pages.

It is so amazing how our lives are connected! I knew at that moment that Steve and I had connected. I knew at that time just what Steve would want me to say as I presented the award to the winner.

It is with great honor that I welcome the Philadelphia Eagles Youth Partnership to our family, a family dedicated to changing the world, one person at a time.

Carlette