By FRANK WARD
DailyPhiladelphian.com Editor
Underneath the hard, tough-as-nails physique that Eagles fullback Leonard Weaver displays on the gridiron is a big teddy bear who loves his family and is far from the macho “I’m better than everyone” athlete we sometimes see. While Weaver has gained a reputation as a guy who keeps it real with the fans, he’s giving us just another example through a fund raiser to benefit his new foundation.
Weaver is giving fans a chance to name his family’s new puppy — a four-month-old, 17-pound English Bulldog. Weaver says the dog will grow to between 65 and 80 pounds.
You can name Leonard Weaver's new English Bulldog puppy by making a donation to the Leonard Weaver Family Foundation.
“I’m in the process of building the Leonard Weaver Family Foundation and need to raise money and wanted to do it in a fun way and and beintimate with the fans,” Weaver told DailyPhiladelphian.com this week. “What better way to do it than to name my dog. The dog is here every day and the fans can have a piece of my (personal) life.”
Fans can enter by going to The Leonard Weaver Family Foundation homepage, clicking on the icon on the site and making at least a $25 donation. You can also enter by mailing your entry (include name, address, phone, email, age and name suggestion with a $25 check made out to Leonard Weaver Family Foundation to: Leonard Weaver (LWFF), Philadelphia Eagles, One NovaCare Way, Philadelphia, PA 19145.
The contest runs through October 5, and entrants must be at least 18 years old. The winner of the contest will receive two tickets to an Eagles home game this season in Leonard’s personal suite (including food & beverages). Winner will chose from games against the Giants (11/21), the Vikings (12/26), or the Cowboys (1/2). Winner and guest will be transported to and from the game, have a meet & greet with Leonard, and receive an official NFL autographed football.
Weaver says the goal of his foundation is to help kids make more sense of life and make them better members of society. The puppy contest will help pave the way for him to be able to start programs to reach that goal.
At the end of training camp, Weaver adopted the dog, who has remained nameless. Weaver says his kids don’t mind not being able to name their own dog. Then again, they don’t really have a choice.
“There’s only one papa in this house and that’s me,” Weaver joked. he added, “Right now the dog has a bunch of names. They call him whatever. But, at the end of this, it’ll be a great thing.”
