Philadelphia

JON BON JOVI SHOTS THAT WILL FILL YOUR SOUL, Plus snaps from the press conference of the JBJ Homes Dedication

April 25, 2014 by HughE Dillon
On Tuesday, Bon Jovi attended the grand opening of a low-income housing development bearing his initials.  The 55-unit JBJ Soul Homes in Philadelphia will house formerly homeless and low-income tenants. A
New Jersey-native, the singer’s Soul Foundation and the Middleton
Partnership provided the lead gift for the  $16.6 million complex,
located in the Francisville neighborhood.
Jon Bon Jovi and wife Dorothea at the opening of the JBJ Soul Homes on Tuesday. The couple, who were high school sweethearts, celebrate 25 years of marriage on April 29.
 Sister Mary Scullion and Jon Bon Jovi
Jon Bon Jovi of the Soul Foundation, cracks Joan Dawson McConnon, co-founder of Project HOME
 Love, love that Lynn Honickman takes a cell photo of the Middleton’s
 The North Philly Footstompers open up the ceremony.
 A beautiful Gospel song to start the day.
 Over 300 community leaders, and community caregivers were on hand at the dedication.
Sister Mary Scullion, co-founder of Project HOME, Jon Bon Jovi of the
Soul Foundation, and Joan Dawson McConnon, co-founder of Project HOME
 I think JBJ is wondering why I didn’t bring a long enough lens to get to get a clean close up shot.

Cheryl Ann Davis, a JBJ Soul Homes resident, reads a poem dedicated to
her mother; she talked about how her mom had died and left her homeless.
Cheryl went on to live in youth homeless shelter Covenant House where
she got her life back together. She is now attending Community College
of Philadelphia. She recently moved into the JBJ Soul Homes. Covenant House Pennsylvania will be honoring Craig Spencer, President
& CEO of The Arden Group and Vice-Chairman of the JBJSF, and the Jon
Bon Jovi Soul Foundation at their 9th Annual A Night of Broadway Stars
gala on Wednesday, May 7, 2014. Both Craig Spencer and the Jon Bon
Jovi Soul Foundation will be honored for their work with homeless youth
striving to turn their lives around. (Jon Bon
Jovi, will play a short acoustic set at the “Night of Broadway,” a benefit for Covenant House, on May 7th.)

 You don’t say no to the dynamic duo
 We can’t go home, til we all go home.
 Yeah, he’s 52.

 Miss Pennsylvania
 This is the back of the building with parking.

 Residents can place prayer cards in this cubibles below this gorgeous mosiac in the lobby.
 A sample one bedroom unit.

 This kitchen is gorgeous. 
JBJ Soul Homes includes several amenities including community space for
residents, an exercise room, and a green sustainable roof.

The project received both private and public funding. The lead private
funding comes from the JBJ Soul Foundation and the Middleton
Partnership. The lead public funding comes from U.S. Dept. of Housing
& Urban Development (HUD) and the City of Philadelphia.

 David Gregory of Meet The Press was on hand to Emcee the gala that evening. Read more about it in my Phillydotcom Column and check out Jeffrey Lurie and wife Tina and more notable shots on PhillyMag