MercyFirst resident, Frank, gets the autograph of Jets Coach, Eric Mangini.

It’s not everyday that you get to join the New York Jets for lunch and practice. So you can imagine the excitement of the 8 teenage boys from MercyFirst who joined the Jets at their facility in Hempstead. NY on Tuesday, June 17, 2008. The afternoon began with lunch where the boys were able to hang out with some of the players and get autographs. Then they went outside for a game of catch. The boys got some tips from the coaches and tossed the ball around with some of the players. Finally, the boys got a first-hand glimpse of what life in the NFL is like by sitting in on a Jets practice.

“It was so cool to see all the players close up,” say one participant. “I’m so used to seeing them on TV. It was fun to eat lunch with them.”

The New York Jets have a long history of partnering with MercyFirst. Jets players have volunteered on MercyFirst’s Campus, as well as inviting residents to join them during their training camps. Last fall an anonymous Jets player treated 25 of MercyFirst’s teens to a shopping spree in the City. The Jets Women’s Association has been an important partner for MercyFirst fundraising events, as well.