Eagles' Chris Long launches ‘First Quarter for Literacy' campaign, donates portion of salary

PHILADELPHIA (WTXF) - In case you haven't figured it out yet, Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Chris Long isn't just here to make plays; he wants to make a difference.

The two-time Super Bowl champion announced on Friday that he was partnering up with United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey to promote literacy.

Long announced the launch of his 'First Quarter for Literacy' campaign on Good Day Philadelphia Friday morning. Long will be donating a quarter of his salary to support Philadelphia's 'Read by 4th Campaign' that aims to develop students into strong readers by 4th grade.

DONATE: First Quarter for Literacy

"Did you know that if kids are reading on grade level by the start of 4th grade, they are much more likely to succeed in school, graduate on time, and go on to earn more throughout their lives," Long wrote on Twitter.

While the efforts of the Long family and United Way alone will go a long way, they're also asking for your help supporting their campaign. The public can donate money, which will go towards providing books for students.

Last season, Long made headlines for his work off the field after he donated all 16 of his game checks to charity to benefit educational equality and social justice reform. Long's first six game checks went to funding a scholarship program at St. Anne's-Belfield School, where he attended high school in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Long was named the NFL Players Association Byron "Whizzer" White Community MVP for the 2017 season.

For physical book donations, you can email the United Way at contact@uwgpsnj.org, and they will respond with the best location for you to drop off.