The Philly Specials – Jason Kelce, Lane Johnson, and Jordan Mailata – delivered holiday cheer to Philadelphia students and teachers in an unforgettable way with Operation Snowball, a citywide gift-giving initiative that brought joy to over 1.1 million students and teachers in the School District of Philadelphia. The event, coordinated with The Fund for the School District of Philadelphia, culminated just in time for winter break, combining philanthropy, music, and holiday spirit.
Operation Snowball Highlights:
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A motorcade featuring The Philly Specials’ iconic red Astrovan, a Philly Specials toy truck, police escorts, three Amazon delivery vans, a firetruck, and more.
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Visits to three schools: Eliza B. Kirkbride School, Ben Franklin High School, and Alliance for Progress Charter School.
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High-energy celebrations with high-fives, sing-alongs, classroom visits, and gift deliveries to students and teachers, including special recognition for Junior ROTC and Honor Roll students at Ben Franklin High School.
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Participation from beloved Philadelphia mascots – Swoop, The Phanatic, Gritty, and Franklin – alongside Chase from Paw Patrol, Eagles security Big Dom, comedian Pete Davidson, and Philly icons Wallo & Gillie Da King.
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Special guests including Governor Josh Shapiro, PA Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton, Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr., Ed.D., Fund CEO Kathryn Epps, and representatives from global retailers, toy companies, and nonprofits.
Adding to the festive atmosphere, The Philly Specials announced the December 20th release of their new holiday track, “Run Rudolph Run,” featuring Jon Bon Jovi.
A Collaborative Effort to Celebrate the Season “When the guys said they wanted to give each student and teacher a gift this year, I knew it was ambitious,” said Connor Barwin, Vera Y Records’ executive producer. “But tapping into Philadelphia’s indomitable spirit made it possible. Visiting schools with Jason, Lane, Jordan, and our partners was unforgettable. Seeing the joy on everyone’s faces was what this season is all about.”
Charlie Hall, producer and musical director (The War On Drugs), echoed the sentiment: “This initiative brought studio joy and friendship into the schools. As a parent in the district, it was amazing to see how universal joy can be, regardless of faith or holiday traditions.”
A Philly Special Christmas Party: A Record-Breaking Holiday Trilogy The Philly Specials celebrated the release of their third and final holiday album, A Philly Special Christmas Party, which reached #1 on Billboard’s Holiday Charts and #16 on the Billboard Top 200. Proceeds from album sales directly support Operation Snowball and other citywide initiatives, with additional contributions to The Fund for the School District of Philadelphia.
This year’s holiday album includes chart-topping singles such as:
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“Santa Drives An Astrovan,” accompanied by a music video shot at Lincoln Financial Field.
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“Maybe This Christmas,” a duet with Stevie Nicks.
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“It’s Christmas Time (In Cleveland Heights),” featuring Jason and Travis Kelce alongside Boyz II Men.
Operation Snowball: A Massive Collaborative Effort The idea for Operation Snowball began with Jason Kelce’s vision of matching Philadelphia’s resilient spirit with a gesture that would resonate citywide. The project launched with a $1 million donation of toys from Spin Master, known for its innovative brands like PAW Patrol™ and Hatchimals™, and grew with support from Just Play, Fanatics, Jazwares, QVC, Tarte Cosmetics, Toy Foundation, Amazon Wondery, WildBrain, Five Below, Wawa, Shipmates, and Zippy Shell.
About The Fund for the School District of Philadelphia The Fund for the School District of Philadelphia aligns philanthropic and private sector support with district priorities to advance academic achievement for every child. For more information, visit thefundsdp.org.
Stream A Philly Special Christmas Party and “Run Rudolph Run” Today! Listen to A Philly Special Christmas Party and the new track “Run Rudolph Run” on your favorite streaming platform and join The Philly Specials in celebrating the season with music and generosity.
