I want to give a shout out to my old high school football coaches Bob Wagner, Mike Gibbs, Rocky and company for their commitment to bringing more out of me than I ever thought possible in the days of my youth.

Everyday whether in my family life or my business life, I benefit from running those 100 yd wind sprints and use those lessons you taught me, including to NEVER give up, to work hard as a part of a team, to believe in myself, to have discipline and to get up whenever I get knocked down, in my never ending journey towards success! I CAN NEVER EVER REPAY YOU for the things that you taught me that far exceeded just football that I use EVERYDAY in my life.

I only hope that the Philadelphia School District, The City of Philadelphia and the State of Pennsylvania officials read this and understand what I’m talking about before they discontinue sports, art and music so the school kids of today may continue to have the same opportunities that I had in my life that literally saved my life!

TO WHOM THIS MAY CONCERN, LET’S NOT BE THE ADULT GENERATION THAT FAILS OUR KIDS AND TAKES THEIR HOPES, SELF ESTEEMS AND DREAMS FROM THEM. LET’S GIVE THEM THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES WE ALL HAD AND LET’S STRIVE FOR GREATNESS AND SAVE SOME OTHER KID’S LIVES IN THE MEANTIME!

Joe Dougherty.
Philly Labor